Q. Write the Summary of Strong Horse Tea by Alice Walker.

Strong Horse Tea Summary

Introduction

“Strong Horse Tea” is a short story by Alice Walker from her collection “In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women.”

The story provides a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of Rannie, an impoverished African American mother living in the harsh conditions of the rural American South during the early 20th century.

Struggling with the critical illness of her son, Snooks, Rannie represents the plight of countless women marginalized by racial and economic divides.

A Dying Child

The story is about Rannie Toomer, a young mother who is very poor, whose baby boy, Snooks, is her entire world. Snooks is dying from double pneumonia and whooping cough, and his breathing is so weak it makes a faint rustling sound. Rannie is desperately waiting for a real doctor to arrive, as she believes only modern medicine can save her son.

Her neighbour, an old woman named Sarah, is known for using folk remedies and offers to help. She suggests trying her “swamp magic” to cure the baby. This is the traditional way of healing in their community.

But Rannie strongly refuses Sarah’s offer. She is terrified of these methods because a similar cure almost killed her when she was a little girl. This creates a deep conflict for Rannie between her fear of the past and her desperate need for a cure.

A Plea for Help

We learn that Rannie had already begged the mailman to send a doctor for her son. He was her only connection to the outside world and the modern medicine she trusted. She put all of her hope in him.

The mailman, however, was unkind and looked down on Rannie. He was disgusted by her poverty and thought she smelled bad, like “a wet goat.” He saw her not as a person in need, but as a problem to avoid.

The mailman refused to help her seriously and just gave her junk mail, telling her to see Sarah instead. When Rannie grabbed his arm and cried on him in desperation, he got furious, rolled up his window, and sped away, abandoning her.

The Folk Remedy

A real doctor never shows up at Rannie’s home. Instead, Sarah comes to the door and calmly announces, “I’s the doctor, child.” In this moment, Rannie’s hope in the modern world is completely gone.

With no other choice, Rannie must now trust the very woman she feared. Sarah looks at the baby, who is already turning blue, and tells Rannie plainly, “The child’s dying.”

However, she says there is one last, powerful remedy they can try, but warns that it will take a “mighty strong stomach.” Sarah then whispers the secret cure: “good strong horse tea,” which is a folk name for horse urine.

A Mother’s Effort

Rannie doesn’t waste a second. Her love for her son is stronger than any feeling of disgust, and she immediately runs out into a cold, raging storm. Her only focus is on saving her child.

She finds a horse in a pasture, but realises she has nothing to carry the “tea” in. She quickly takes off one of her plastic shoes to use as a cup, a desperate and humble tool for her urgent mission.

It is a difficult and messy struggle as she slips and slides in the mud while chasing the mare. When the shoe gets a small crack and begins to leak, Rannie puts her own mouth over the crack to save every precious drop.

The Tragic End

Rannie runs back home through the cold mud, carefully holding the shoe. She is filled with a desperate hope that this last-ditch effort will be enough to save her son.

When she bursts into her small house, she is ready to give Snooks the medicine. But she is met with a terrible and complete silence, and she knows something is wrong.

She looks at her baby and sees that his frail breathing has stopped. She realizes that Snooks died while she was out trying to save him, and her incredible sacrifice was too late, leaving her all alone.

After reading this summary, challenge yourself and test your understanding with specially prepared MCQs on Strong Horse Tea by Alice Walker.

Strong Horse Tea Themes

• Maternal Love and Sacrifice
• Socio-economic Disparities and Injustice
• Resilience and Determination

1- Maternal Love and Sacrifice

A central theme in “Strong Horse Tea” is a mother’s love, as shown through Rannie. Despite her difficult situation and limited resources, Rannie’s love for her son, Snooks, never weakens.

Her love drives her actions throughout the story, showing how far a mother will go to protect her child.

Rannie’s constant search for medical help, her hope even when faced with hardship, and her eventual acceptance of Sarah’s unusual remedy stem from her deep love for Snooks.

When Rannie realizes the doctor might never come, she gathers the courage to try other solutions, no matter how unpleasant.

One of the most moving parts of the story is when Rannie ventures out into a storm to collect the “strong horse tea” using her shoe. This shows her readiness to face discomfort and even shame for her son’s well-being.

She puts her mouth to the hole in her shoe to stop the liquid from spilling, which shows her desperation and the extent of her sacrifice.

Even with Sarah’s presence, Rannie still hopes for an actual doctor, showing her desire to give her son the best care. Her hesitation in using Sarah’s folk remedy shows her belief that modern medicine is better and more effective.

The story’s tragic end highlights the theme of a mother’s sacrifice. Despite Rannie’s efforts, which ultimately fail, her struggle represents the many mothers who face neglect and indifference yet still fight for their children’s survival.

2- Socio-economic Disparities and Injustice

“Strong Horse Tea” reveals the severe socio-economic inequalities and systemic injustice present in the society depicted.

The story focuses on Rannie, a poor African American woman who struggles to care for her sick son without help from formal institutions like healthcare.

Rannie’s financial situation constantly prevents her from getting medical help for her child. Despite her desperation, her pleas go unheard. She writes many letters, but her cries for help are met with silence and indifference.

This highlights the neglect and discrimination faced by people from low-income backgrounds, especially those in marginalized communities.

The fact that the doctor never arrives for Snooks, despite his serious condition, further emphasizes the racial discrimination that is deeply rooted in society.

The healthcare system, controlled by white people, is shown as cold and uncaring toward those who live on the edges of society.

The white mailman’s failure to bring a doctor symbolizes the systemic racism that stops marginalized people from accessing vital services.

Rannie’s acceptance of Sarah’s folk remedy and her desperate attempt to gather the “strong horse tea” during a storm are painful reminders of the extreme measures people must take when they have no other options.

Alice Walker’s “Strong Horse Tea” portrays the harmful effects of socio-economic inequality and systemic injustice. Through Rannie’s experience, the story shows the neglect and discrimination marginalized communities face.

3- Resilience and Determination

Throughout “Strong Horse Tea,” the character of Rannie exemplifies the themes of resilience and determination as she faces the dire circumstances of her son Snooks’ illness.

Despite the healthcare disparities and the neglect she experiences, she remains resolute in her attempts to help her child.

From the outset, Rannie demonstrates incredible strength and persistence. The repeated rejection and lack of response to her pleas do not deter her from trying to secure medical help for Snooks.

This dogged determination is a testament to Rannie’s character and reflects the resiliency often exhibited by marginalized individuals in the face of adversity.

Rannie’s resilience becomes more evident when she considers Sarah’s alternative remedy for Snooks, the ‘strong horse tea.’ She initially approaches this with reluctance.

However, despite her skepticism, Rannie is willing to explore all possible solutions. This determination underscores her intense desire to save her child’s life.

Despite the bad weather and challenging situation, going out into the storm to get the mare’s urine shows her strong will and determination.

Furthermore, Rannie’s eventual return home, despite the tragic loss of her child, represents the ongoing struggle for survival faced by marginalized individuals.

Her resilience is embodied in her determination to endure, survive, and keep moving forward in the face of devastating loss.

Strong Horse Tea Characters

Rannie

Rannie is the protagonist of “Strong Horse Tea.” An African American woman residing in the rural South, she is characterized by her intense love for her sick son, Snooks, and her desperation to secure medical aid. Rannie embodies resilience, persistence, and the raw human spirit in the face of adversity.

Her character symbolizes the struggles of marginalized communities and their resilience amidst systemic neglect and discrimination.

Rannie’s willingness to accept an unconventional remedy clearly displays the profound love inherent to motherhood. Moreover, her determination to go out in a storm to save her child’s life showcases the sacrifices a mother is willing to make.

Snooks

Snooks, though a character with limited presence, is a driving force for the narrative. As Rannie’s ailing son, his sickness and eventual death starkly reveal the systemic disparities and injustices in the healthcare system.

Snooks symbolizes the countless lives affected by such disparities, reflecting the broader implications of racial and socio-economic inequality.

Sarah

In the story, Sarah embodies traditional wisdom and community support. Despite being untrained in formal medicine, she steps in when formal healthcare fails Rannie and Snooks.

Her insistence on using the ‘strong horse tea,’ a folk remedy, indicates her reliance on traditional practices and communal knowledge.

Sarah’s character signifies the importance of community and mutual aid in overcoming adversities, particularly within marginalized societies.

Mailman

The mailman in “Strong Horse Tea” is a significant minor character. However, he does not have much presence in the story. His role is to convey the doctor’s responses to Rannie, yet he consistently brings only disappointing news – if any at all.

The white mailman embodies the disconnect between the marginalized community where Rannie resides and the larger institutions, such as healthcare, that neglect them.

His lack of empathy for Rannie’s situation further reflects society’s apathy toward the struggles of those on the fringes. The mailman’s character highlights societal indifference toward marginalized individuals and their desperate pleas for help.