The Black Stallion

Farley, Walter

Random House: New York, 1941.

Plot Overview:

 This is the very first book in Walter Farley’s series. Both Alec Ramsey and the Black (Shêtân) are left stranded on a deserted island after their ship the Drake is capsized upon leaving India. The two are left to survive on an island that results in a very strong emotional bond. After the two have been rescued, Alec becomes friends with a horseracing trainer names Henry Dailey. Because of the Black’s incredible racing potential, they begin training and racing him in secret. The book culminates in both Alec and Henry entering the Black as an unnamed mystery horse. The race is pitted against two famed racing champions, Sun Raider and Cyclone.

Alexander (Alec) Ramsey: HERO

 Alec has numerous heroic qualities. There are a number of expected characteristics that are associated with this archetype. These personality traits include persistence/perseverance, the love of a challenge, dangerous work and a strong sense of duty and honour.

 Alec embraces both danger as an expected accompaniment to excitement and adventure.

   Alec expresses that he would miss India, “even the screams of the panthers and the many eerie sounds of the jungle night.” (3)

 As a hero, Alec is persistent and determined to finish a task once started. This trait extends to even the smallest of tasks. While on the deserted island, Alec was quite literally starving and taught himself to hunt fish with a spear. In order to cook this fish, Alec (for the first time) attempts to create a fire without matches: “it seemed to Alec that an hour passed before a small column of smoke crept out of the hole His tired arms pushed harder.” (25)

 While on the desert island, Alec is determined that he be able to ride the Black. Of course, the Black will have nothing to do with this; naturally, Alec persists. It takes a number of unsuccessful attempts: “’See, I’m not going to hurt you,’ Alec murmured, knowing it was he who might be hurt. After a few minutes, Alec cautiously slid onto his back. Once again, the stallion snorted and sent the boy flying through the air. Alec picked up from the ground.” (33) This is a pattern that is repeated time and time again: “Henry have the boy a boost and he landed in the saddle. A fraction of a second later he found himself flying through the air. The ground rushed up at him. Alec managed to draw his feet up under him and break his fall. He lay still a moment, his body aching…’Okay, Henry.’ Alec once again went to the Black’s left side.” (123)

 Alec also embraces hard physical labour.

   Working as a missionary in the Indian jungles was a satisfying task for Alec. He relishes in the fact that it was physically difficult: “No sir, you had to be big and strong, able to ride horseback for long hours through the tangled jungle paths. Alec glanced down proudly at the hard muscles in his arms.” (4)

   Related to his physical toughness is his ability to withstand any kind of discomfort. Alec proudly asserts that throughout the entire sea voyage, he “’wasn’t sick once all the way over and we had a rough crossing too,’ Alec said proudly.” (4) When Alec and the Black are swimming for hours through the stormy sea, he relies on this strong natural instinct to continue on: “the salt water he had swallowed during the night made him sick to his stomach. But when Alec felt that he could hold out no longer, he looked at the struggling, fighting animal in from of him, and new courage came to him.” (16)

 Alec has a strong sense of duty to moral causes and the welfare of others.

   When the ship is on the brink of total wreck and ruin, rather than thinking of his own safety, Alec “immediately thought of the Black. What was happening to him? Was he still in his stall? Alec fought his way out of line and toward the stern of the boat. If the stallion was alive, he was going to set him free and give him the chance to fight for life.” (13)

 Alec conducts himself according to what is right and morally just. While on the deserted island, Alec was quite literally starving. In his delirium, “the boy’s subconscious thought rose to the surface of his mind: ‘There’s food, Alec, food-if you could only find some way of killing him!’ Then he shook his head, hating himself. Kill the animal that saved his life? Never-even if he could, he would die of starvation first!” (26)

The Black (Shêtân): REBEL

 The Black strongly corresponds to the rebel archetype. This archetype is characterized by a rejection of overbearing power or dominance (especially if it is considered unjust). The Black is a character that is mysterious, very isolated/individual, and difficult to formally control.

 The rebel provokes a kind of frightened awe through its displays of power and refusal to be dominated. The Black is instantly characterized as such: “white lather ran from the horse’s body, his mouth was open, his teeth bared…his head was that of the wildest of all wild creatures-a stallion born wild-and it was beautiful, savage, splendid…physical perfection that matched his savage, ruthless spirit.” (5) Of course, the Black is still a sympathetic character. This ferocious rage is provoked by unjust treatment. Alec observes that an attendant “let the whip fall on the Black’s hindquarters…the Black snorted and plunges, if ever Alec saw hate expressed by a horse, he saw it then.” (7)

 The Black and his actions are not always fully understood, this is part of his rebellious mystique. While on the island, Alec awakes to find “the Black on his hind legs, his teeth bared…high above him the Black’s legs pawed the air, and then descended three yards in front of him!” (28) While this gesture was initially incredibly frightening and misunderstood, Alec later reasons that the Black was killing a poisonous snake that, unbeknownst to him, lay ready to pounce and bite!

 The Black is driven by the desire to express dominance. When Alec unloads him from the ship onto American soil, he is turned loose into a large group of horses. The Black engages in a fight with another stallion, a chestnut, that leaves both horses bodies’ “streaked with blood and with lather.” (57) This was in an effort for the Black to assert dominance over the chestnut and the large herd of horses. While it was a display of brutal fighting, the Black stays true to his rebel nature. Alec supports the reasoning that the Black was justified because “the chestnut had started the fight.” (58)

 A significant aspect of the Black’s rebel character is attributed to his singular nature. He is always an individual. He is always the largest, the blackest, the fiercest or the biggest. This even extends to the Black’s constitution: “The man looked at the Black admiringly. ‘He certainly must have an iron constitution to go through the seas like this without being sick. He’s the only animal on board who isn’t.’” (62) Even Henry Dailey recognizes that the Black is an individual superior to his peers: “’I never thought I would see a horse that could break that record-until now.’” (105)

 A sense of mystery and misunderstanding is key to the rebel archetype. Both Henry and Alec devise a plan to race the Black against two renowned horses. Even these men play up the importance of the Black’s mystery: the newspapers print a story that reads “WHO IS THE MYSTERY HORSE THAT CAN BEAT BOTH CYCLONE AND SUN RAIDER?” (157) He is continually referred to as “the wonder horse” and the “mystery horse.” (178)

Henry Dailey CAREGIVER

 Henry Dailey has assumed the role of caregiver. More specifically, this is manifested in the way he acts as a mentor and friend for Alec and another source of comfort and understanding for the Black.

 While Henry is not overbearing or controlling, this quality is manifested in the advice he continually offers both Alec and the Black. The Black is nervous when he is first brought to New York and Alec is somewhat at a loss for what to do with him. Henry advises that Alec should “’let him loose. See how he likes it,’ said Henry. ‘Do you think it’s safe?’ ‘He’s all right now. You gave him a good run. Besides he has to get used to being left alone

 As a mentor and caregiver, Henry pushes Alec and the Black into competitive racing. This could very easily be considered self serving; of course, this is a standard unsavoury trait of the caregiver. Upon seeing the Black’s physique and potential, Henry muses that he “’never liked this business of retiring, anyway,’ he said. “Not too old-still plenty of good years left in me!…I need action. And here I have to shoved right into my lap!’” (91) While Henry is thinking of himself, we should be careful not to label him as entirely self-serving or having evil intentions. Rather, he is bolstering his own interests as well as those of the Black and Alec.  

 Henry has a keen interest, as a caregiver, in improving Alec’s life and his lifeskills: “Under Henry’s expert tutelage, Alec’s riding skill became greater and greater until Henry nodded with approval.” (111) Moreover, Henry is a successful mentor and example. Under his urging and time management lessons, Alec manages to balance his many responsibilities: ‘”Keep it up, Alec, and we’ll show your folks that you can raise a champion race horse and get good marks at the same time!’” (113)