How Tamar Battles the Railroad in 19th-Century America
In the rugged deserts of post-Civil War California, land was more than just territory—it was life itself.
The protagonist of Sheldon Greene’s Tamar, the battle for land is a fight for her people’s survival, heritage, and identity.
Set against the backdrop of encroaching settlers and the relentless march of industrialization, Tamar’s story is one of resistance, resilience, and the fight to reclaim what is rightfully hers.
In a world rapidly changing with the arrival of railroads and settlers, Tamar explores what happens when modernity clashes with ancient traditions.
For Tamar’s people, preserving their land means preserving their way of life, a battle that resonates far beyond the 19th century.
Land as Cultural Identity
For Tamar’s community, their land is more than a physical place—it’s a symbol of their connection to their ancestors and their cultural identity.
Nestled in the remote Binyan Valley, Tamar’s people live according to ancient Hebrew and Native American traditions, blending these rich heritages into a harmonious way of life.
The land sustains them physically and spiritually, serving as a living testament to their resilience.
As Tamar herself reflects, “We were islands of green fields and adobe houses in a brown sea of frozen waves.” This image of isolation speaks to the preciousness of the land, where centuries-old traditions remain intact, far from the outside world’s influence.
However, the arrival of the railroad threatens to tear through this sanctuary, threatening the soil they walk on and the very fabric of their culture.
The Railroad as a Symbol of Erasure
In Tamar, the railroad is not just a mode of transportation—it represents industrialization and the erasure of indigenous cultures.
For Tamar, the railroad’s arrival signals the beginning of the end for her people’s way of life.
The settlers and surveyors view the land as something to be carved up, sold, and exploited. But for Tamar’s community, the land is sacred, tied to generations of ancestors who have lived and died on it.
The railroad’s construction is a harbinger of destruction for Tamar’s people.
As the surveyors mark off plots of land, dividing it into sections, they reduce the valley’s spiritual and historical significance to mere numbers on a map. “Our title to this land comes down to us from the Toltec empire,” Tamar’s community leader argues, emphasizing their ancient claim.
But the settlers and railroad companies, armed with government backing, are unmoved by such appeals. For them, the land is an opportunity, not a legacy.
Tamar’s Fight for Survival
Tamar emerges as a central figure in her community’s fight against this invasion.
As the railroad advances, she must rally her people to resist—not with violence but strategy and resilience. Her leadership is marked by her ability to navigate the tension between preserving her people’s traditions and confronting the stark realities of modern encroachment.
While the settlers and railroad workers come with legal documents and guns, Tamar’s strength lies in her connection to the land and understanding of its significance. “We must find out how to protect ourselves in this strange place,” Tamar’s uncle tells her, recognizing the battle ahead.
It is a fight not just for physical space but for the survival of a culture, a way of life that could be lost to the forces of progress.
A Timeless Struggle for Land and Identity
Tamar’s battle to reclaim her land reflects broader historical struggles, where indigenous peoples and marginalized communities have fought to protect their homelands from exploitation and erasure.
The story speaks to the timeless conflict between tradition and industrialization, showing how the fight for land is often a fight for identity.
Tamar offers readers a profound meditation on the cost of progress and the resilience required to resist it. In a world where land is not just property but heritage, Tamar’s fight is one that echoes through the ages, reminding us of the enduring power of place and the deep connections we hold to the land beneath our feet.
The Fight for Land Continues
Tamar is not just a story about the past—it reflects on the ongoing struggles over land, heritage, and survival.
To understand Tamar’s fight is to understand the broader historical and cultural forces that shape our world today. For readers who seek a deeper connection to history and identity, Tamar is a must-read.
Explore Sheldon Greene’s other works to learn more about the themes of identity, resilience, and cultural survival in Tamar. In them, we probe the intersection of history, land, and human experience.
