Horace Robedaux

I’ve added a new person to my favorite character list—it’s Horace Robedaux. Over the last two weeks I’ve been able to read the nine plays in Horton Foote’s The Orphans’ Home Cycle. These plays begin in 1902 in Harrison, Texas when Horace is twelve years old and his father dies.

Although Horace isn’t an orphan, his parents were separated, and his mother remarries and leaves Horace on his own. He does have kind aunts, uncles, and grandparents, but Horton does not receive any breaks in life. He quits school in the sixth grade to support himself by running a rural country store for convicts. However, through it all, Horace remains steady and good. Through his own determination and resources he does complete a business course in Houston.

One of the most poignant moments in the entire cycle is when Horace finally saves enough money over the years to buy a tombstone for his father. His father seems to have been the only individual who expresses concern, love, and guidance for Horace—the rest of the time Horace seems to be on his own.

Yet, we see the maturing Horace fall in love with Elizabeth Vaughn, and these two unlikely pair develop a strong, loving, enduring relationship, and the two of them continue to struggle together. These two are the only two solid, stable, consistent characters in the entire cycle. They just continue to do their best and to be good no matter what heartache or challenge comes their way.

At one point in an interview, Horton Foote said, “I believe very deeply in the human spirit, and I have a sense of awe about it.”

The cycle ends in 1928, again in Harrison, Texas, at the death of Elizabeth’s father. This cycle bookends are the deaths of good fathers and the impact on Horace. Horace has grown from a lost, wandering son to be a strong, solid, loving father who has established with Elizabeth a home refuge to meet whatever storm comes their way. He is a good, good man.

The nine plays in the chronological cycle include the following:
Roots in a Parched Ground
Convicts
Lily Dale
The Widow Claire
Courtship
Valentine’s Day
1918
Cousins
The Death of Papa