The Sheriff's Children

Charles W. Chesnutt uses diction, including dialect, to make racial and socioeconomic distinctions between the story’s characters. He contrasts the colloquialisms and vernacular of the townspeople and Sam with the educated speech of Sheriff Campbell, Polly, and Tom. Chesnutt introduces the reader to the townspeople via the district’s dialect. One calls the captain’s death “the durndes,’ meanes’ murder ever committed in the caounty” and another “hangin’ air too good fer the murderer” (133). Throughout, they substitute “gwine” for going, “ole” for old, and “jestice” for justice. This places them as both poor and uneducated and also ties them to racial and ideological systems in place before the war. Chesnutt avoids simple contrasts, however. The mob leaders speak eloquently and use correct grammar and diction except for racial slurs, showing that racial hatred is not limited to the uneducated.

Tom is the most articulate character and uses the purest diction when he expresses his most complex thoughts. Although he lapses into occasional colloquialism, his speech primarily paints him as an educated, conscious man. His diction reflects the elevation of his thoughts. Unfortunately, while the townspeople’s simple speech does not change their racial privilege, Tom’s elevated dialect cannot change his fate as a Black man.

That both the sheriff and Tom move in and out of vernacular and educated speech ties them to each other and illustrates their complex identities. While the townspeople use only the most offensive racial slurs, the sheriff switches between using racial slurs, “the prisoner,” and “son” when considering Tom. His diction increasingly shifts to the latter as his process of soul-searching progresses. This illustrates his conflicted roles as sheriff, “white man,” of the county, former enslaver, and father, and brings his character’s trajectory into greater understanding.