Whistling Past the Graveyard

Content Warning: This section discusses racism, racist violence, and spousal abuse.

Starla defines the idiom “whistling past the graveyard” as “when you d[o] something to keep your mind off your most worstest fear” (109). Later, when explaining the phrase to Eula, Starla adds, “[I]t’s not weak, like hidin’…it’s strong. It means you’re able to go on” (357). While Starla’s character is often defined by her seemingly heroic willingness to confront adversity, the issue is complicated by the reality of the United States in this time period. Other characters interact with this theme in varying ways, suggesting that either option isn’t always definitively correct and that it is situationally dependent.

A key part of Starla’s character and the plot is her inability to whistle past the graveyard. Taking the phrase literally, Starla admits, “But I couldn’t whistle” (109). Starla can’t avoid confronting the harm in her immediate world. Whether it’s Jimmy Sellers or the Jenkins brothers, Starla inevitably faces injustice directly, which creates unintended consequences. This headstrong reaction is often a privilege reserved for white individuals, and while she’s with Eula, her behaviors sometimes place them in harm’s way. Starla’s tendency to confront injustice is complicated by the dangers of the time period.