Cold Mountain Literary Analysis

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Frazier’s Cold Mountain introduces Ada and Ruby as opposites in terms of upbringing, knowledge, and social status. Frazier takes advantage of the individual conditions to craft a mutually beneficial interplay between the two accomplices. The two then help each other grow into a cooperative family-like unit through their togetherness. Ada and Ruby’s sharing of knowledge reflects the maturing of their relationship. Both Ada and Ruby decide that they will mutually treat each other as equals. When Ruby is first sent to Ada’s home, the two decide that “everyone empties their own night jar” (Frazier 68). Ruby realizes that Ada is in need of assistance with her farm, so she offers a quid pro quo: “Ruby would move to the [Black] cove [farm] and teach Ada how to run a farm” (Frazier 92). The two maintain this egalitarian perspective as Ada slowly grasps the ability to make her late father’s farm productive and profitable. Ruby also begins to understand further connotation of various erudite subjects that Ada is knowledgeable about. The success of the farm is significant to the budding relationship because it further establishes that their teamwork is a precursor of success.…show more content…
Alongside agricultural knowledge, Ruby teaches Ada that even without money, they could succeed by using trade as an alternate source of necessary materials. Ruby helps the transition of Ada from scholar to farmer by helping her “Settl[e] on the piano to part with” (Frazier 96). The piano is symbolic of her previous leisurely lifestyle that she must forsake in order to survive, and Ruby is there to help her make this transition. Ruby also strengthens Ada’s agrarian skills by purposely “refusing to tackle all of the unpleasant work herself” (Frazier 105). In these ways, Ruby helps Ada change into a person who can ably perform manual labor and take full advantage of the property left to
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