How Green Was My Valley

Huw practices to sing the solo. On Sunday, the family wakes early to go to the church. Huw sits through the service until the time comes for him to sing, when he is struck by a sudden fear. He cannot sing. Reverend Gruffydd continues with his sermon and, when the time comes to leave, he watches the people pack away the chairs. Mr. Parry stands up before the congregation and shouts at a crying young woman named Meillyn Lewis, accusing her of being an “adulteress” (104) who has an illegitimate child. As she weeps and apologizes, Parry insists that she must be punished. Huw surprises himself by interjecting and accusing Parry of being a hypocrite. He quotes a Bible verse about hypocrisy at Parry and immediately regrets his behavior. Reverend Gruffydd tells Gwilym to take Huw home. Gwilym is angry and ashamed. At home, Huw worries about what will happen. He imagines a policeman arriving to “take [him] down to the jail” (107). He is surprised that his mother is pleased with him. Her pride diminishes his father’s anger.

Later that day, Gwilym and Huw walk up the mountain. Gwilym tells Huw that he had “no business to speak” (109) to Parry in such a manner as he does not know anything about him. Huw reveals that he knew that Meillyn was having an affair as his bedroom in the kitchen allows him to see people pass the house and overhear gossip. Huw defends Meillyn while his father insists that he should not intervene in other people’s business. Huw asks why Meillyn is publicly shamed while Chris Phillips, the father of her child, is not. When he returns home, Gwilym insists that “the matter is ended” (111). Still proud of her son, Beth is reluctant to return to the chapel. The next day, Huw waits for Reverend Gruffydd to arrive for their daily walk. When he arrives, the priest acts as though nothing happened. Beth seems nervous. Reverend Gruffydd and Huw walk up the mountain. At the top, they discuss the incident in the chapel. The priest tells Huw that he was wrong and that he should not repeat his actions. When Huw defends Meillyn again, Reverend Gruffydd admits that he is slowly trying to change the congregation’s attitudes. These attitudes, however, have allowed the men of the valley to build their community without any outside help. The incident with Meillyn, he explains, is a necessary evil as it will help prevent similar affairs producing more illegitimate children in the future. Huw apologizes.

Ianto, Huw’s second eldest brother, returns home. Huw compares him to the “prodigal son” (114) as he has been away for so long. His return is preceded by a letter, describing his recent trip to London. The family is excited by his return and a crowd gathers to welcome him home. He learns about the recent family marriages and reveals that his wife died six months previous, as did his young baby. He asks his brothers not to tell their mother yet. With everyone distracted, Huw witnesses a private conversation between Owen and a visibly upset Marged. He confesses that he still loves her; she admits that seeing him again after so long has reawakened her affection for him. He offers to run away from her, but she refuses. Owen leaves the room despondently. Gwilym Jr. arrives and comforts his wife. Huw returns to the party, where the adults seem preoccupied by something. They tell him to take a walk on the mountain and he agrees. That night, he returns and eats supper in a crowded house. Ianto tells stories about his time in London. The atmosphere is awkward and eventually Ianto unleashes his anger and frustration at Reverend Gruffydd and the other priests. Reverend Gruffydd offers to talk about the matter with Ianto the following morning and Ianto accepts.

Huw returns to school for the first time in two years. Having read so much during his recuperation, however, he discovers that there is “nothing Mrs. Tom could teach [him]” (123). He is sent home, where the family discuss what type of school Huw should attend. Ianto reveals his newfound respect for Reverend Gruffydd, though this displeases Davy. Beth and Angharad discuss the ways they can help a poor family in the village who are expecting a baby. Huw is sent down to the Benyon house with food. Soon, many more people from the village arrive to help clean and repair the house. Huw and his friend Tegwen watch Mrs. Benyon give birth by watching through a hole in the wall. When he tells Bronwen, she criticizes him for invading Mrs. Benyon’s privacy. He feels betrayed when Bronwen tells Beth, who then tells Gwilym. Huw is told by his father to “forget all you saw” (133) other than to understand the painful way in which people come into the world.

The Morgan family keeps hens and raise turkeys each Christmas. One year, they raise a batch of “white turkeys” (134) the novelty of which fascinate the people of the village. One day, the turkeys are stolen. Huw stays in the village while his brothers search for the turkeys. He spots a white turkey feather near the house belonging to Elias the Shop. In the shop, Elias refuses to sell Huw candy so Huw runs home and tells his mother about the turkey feather. She does not believe that Elias stole the turkeys. Later, however Gwilym leads his sons on a walk to see Elias. He confronts the shopkeeper and insists on seeing the man’s backyard. Elias tries to stop Gwilym from finding the stolen turkeys. The men fight and Gwilym takes his turkeys, leaving Elias with a bloody nose. He tells Elias that this “will be [Elias’s] last night in this Valley” (140). Elias claims that he stole the turkeys as punishment for Gwilym’s sin of pride and insists that he was planning on leaving the Valley regardless. Gwilym walks home, prominently displaying his reclaimed turkeys for the neighbors to see. At home, Reverend Gruffydd is waiting. On hearing about the turkeys, he begins to laugh. He hopes to see Gwilym at the chapel soon. The next day, many people from the village venture out to hear a sermon from the priest. He warns about “wickedness creeping into the Valley without halt or check” (143). He warns them that a policeman will inevitably bring English law into the Welsh valley. He tells them to fight against their falling wages by forming unions and electing politicians to represent their interests. The speech inspires the community, so much so that even Gwilym becomes involved in organizing union meetings.

Huw helps Ceridwen prepare to travel to town. She is to be introduced to a boy named Blethyn Llywarch, who she will eventually marry. The group return with parcels and gossip. Gwilym tries to integrate Blethyn into the chaotic family setting, but everyone is distracted when Davy arrives with his girlfriend, Ethelwyn. After catering for everyone, Angharad is exhausted. She and Huw take a walk up the mountain. She claims to want a moment of peace but, as they sit down, they are approached by Iestyn Evans, the son of the colliery worker. He and Angharad are well-acquainted, which riles Huw. She wanted five minutes alone with Iestyn, but Huw insists that they return home. In the house, the men are “talking about the Unions” (150). Iestyn’s father, Mr. Evans, is debating Reverend Gruffydd about who they should consider their real enemy in the fight for fair wages. After the other men leave, the male members of the Morgan family discuss the unions. The following Sunday, the community attends the chapel. Sitting in the chapel, Huw notices Bronwen’s distinctive lavender scent. After the service, the family eats together and then the youngsters are back to the chapel for Sunday school. Arriving back at the chapel, Huw sees Iestyn. When he mentions Angharad’s name, Ianto punches Iestyn in the face. Taking her inside the chapel, he claims that he will “not allow [his] sister to be treated like a pit-woman” (155). After Sunday school, the Morgan children return home to find their parents waiting for them with Mr. Evans and Iestyn. When Iestyn confesses to talking with Angharad, Mr. Evans understands Ianto’s actions. Iestyn agrees to return the following day to ask Gwilym for permission to speak to Angharad. With so many people involved in romantic relationships, Huw spends more time with Owen, “trying to make his engine go” (157).

Huw is asked to take food to the house belonging to Gwilym Jr. and Marged in the next valley. He arrives to find the empty house “in uproars” (158) so Huw helps to tidy. As night falls, Huw hears a strange noise in the house. He finds Marged crying. She mistakes him for Owen, even when he announces himself. When she asks him to “kiss your Marged” (160), Huw runs from the house, and she chases after him. When he sees her crying and hitting her head against a rock, he tries to comfort her. She sinks into a deep sleep, and he goes for help. Gwilym and other men rush up the mountain. There, they find Marged “lying in the fire, and burning, with smoke” (161). Huw is distraught. He returns home, where Owen is about to start his engine for the first time. Huw helps him to start the machine, but Gwilym returns home and sees Huw crying. He tells his family what he saw. Huw is sent to bed while the adults do what they can. After, “Marged [is] never spoken of in the house” (163), but Huw thinks of her often. In the following days, Gwilym announces that Huw will attend the nearby National School, which is located in a growing town.

Bronwen enrolls Huw in the National School. The teacher is an Englishman named Mr. Motshill who insists that Huw speak English “at all times” (165) rather than the Welsh he speaks at home. Bronwen resents his comments but accepts with Huw’s desire to join the school. Reverend Gruffydd is happy for Huw and gives him a pencil box, which has been in his family for several generations. Huw inspects his new stationary set with delight. Beth is unimpressed with the idea of the school. Huw overhears her talking to his father, who admits that he hopes that Huw will be awarded a scholarship if he proves himself academically. The next day, Huw walks to the school. He speaks to Mr. Motshill and sees the school sing a hymn badly. Huw is tested to determine his current level of education. Mr. Motshill is told that Huw is “too advanced” (172) for his age group so he is placed in a higher class. When Huw returns to the class, the other boys have destroyed his pencil box and his books. Huw is furious but then weeps for his ruined stationary, given to him by Reverend Gruffydd. Huw tells the guilty boys that he will “fight [them] all one by one” (175) but he will not tell anyone what they have done. He is taken to the advanced class, led by Mr. Jonas, who mockingly refers to him as an “intellectual giant” (175). Huw knows that he has made an enemy of this teacher, who scathingly rebukes Huw for his “dirty coal mining ways” (176). During a break, Huw is confronted by Mervyn Phillips, one of the boys who broke his pencil box. The boys scuffle until they are interrupted by Mr. Motshill. After school, Huw is chased away but escapes with Ellis the postman, who agrees to take him home every night. When Beth sees Huw’s injuries, she is horrified. Gwilym learns about the fight and inspects his son’s wounds, telling Huw that he may need to “take a hiding” (179) sometimes but insists that he should never allow himself to be beaten. Gwilym teaches Huw how to fight.

Reverend Gruffydd visits the house and Huw tells him about the pencil box. The priest is angry, but Gwilym insists that they are “better to let Huw fight his own way” (182). Huw promises to mend the box. That evening, when the family raise a toast to the queen, Huw is given a sip of beer and then sent to bed. During the evening, he notices a strange relationship between Angharad and Reverend Gruffydd. The next day, Huw returns to the school. Mr. Jonas mocks him again, claiming that “there is no wonder that civilized men look down upon Welshmen as savages” (186). Huw believes that Mr. Jonas is “ashamed” (187) of his Welsh heritage.