Shiloh

Big, fat, round-faced, “fast-talking” Judd Travers is the antagonist in Shiloh. Judd is a shady character. He lies about deer he has poached, cheats old Mr. Wallace, kicks his own dogs, and enjoys hunting and killing things—all stuff that goes against what Marty believes is right. Judd has “tight-little-eyes” (25) and a “mean and nasty” disposition (101). He uses bad language, spits tobacco at people he dislikes, and has an intimidating way of growling at folks. Judd is a scofflaw, boasting that the law “never told me before what I could do with my dogs, won’t be tellin’ me now” (44). He shoots deer out of season, defying hunting regulations.

Judd’s mistreated dogs reflect his angry personality. Judd does not care about the animals as individuals, but only as tools. He keeps them “lean and mean” so they will be better hunters (25). Judd values appearances. He keeps his truck free from dents and scratches to make himself look good. Marty learns that Judd’s father whipped him with a belt starting when Judd was just four years old. Judd’s rough childhood probably contributed to Judd’s insensitivity to other people and animals. Judd does his best to bully Marty and get him to break their bargain over Shiloh, but Marty’s hard work and perseverance win Judd over. Marty may even have planted a seed in Judd’s mind about changing some of his ways.

The young, shy beagle that follows Marty home one day is the novel’s title character and the catalyst for everything that happens in Shiloh. When Marty first sees Shiloh, the dog acts as though it has been abused: cowering and groveling and afraid to even bark. Marty’s whistle brings Shiloh running and marks the beginning of their bond. Named after the nearby town of Shiloh where Marty finds him, Shiloh quickly responds to Marty’s loving care. Shiloh is a big face-licker, showering Marty, and later Marty’s family, with doggy kisses. Shiloh is also smart: He quickly learns Marty’s expectations, and even when injured, learns to tap the door when he wants to be let in.

Shiloh becomes Marty’s best friend and the impetus for Marty’s crusade. Marty will do anything to protect Shiloh from Judd and keep Shiloh for his own. As Marty spends time with Shiloh, the beagle’s personality emerges more fully and the bond between him and Marty deepens. Marty wonders, “if Shiloh’s gettin’ more human, or I’m gettin’ to be more dog” (48).

Most of all, Shiloh is a loving creature. He has soulful, expressive eyes and seems to understand what Marty is thinking, and that Marty is trying to keep him safe. Based on Shiloh’s devotion, Marty believes that Jesus would return to earth as a dog, because “there isn’t anything in the world as humble or patient or loving or loyal” as Shiloh (48). Shiloh embodies love. He brings sustenance for the Preston family’s emotional needs in the form of happiness and affection. 

Marty thinks Ma has “…a pretty face. Plain, but smooth” (69). Ma is tough and practical and filled with love for her family. She is very protective, worrying about things like Marty getting sick from wearing wet clothes. Ma works hard to take care of them all, from cooking to taking in extra work to do from home. Ma often expresses her love through her cooking: baking celebratory waffles and a real cake when Shiloh joins the family.

Ma makes use of all her available resources, even cutting open the toes of Dara Lynn’s shoes so she can wear them until they can afford a new pair. Ma wishes she could give Marty and his sisters more, especially a pet, but she knows they don’t have much money and must guard their resources, so they have enough to get by and can support Grandma Preston’s care. Shrewd and observant, Ma knows that Marty is fixated on Shiloh. Because Ma is so in-tune with her family, she is the first one to discover Marty’s secret.

Deep down, Ma is sensitive and gentle-hearted. She and her husband Ray have a trusting, loving relationship. In fourteen years of marriage, she has never lied to him—until she lies about Shiloh out of love for Marty. Ma sings along to country love songs and hums to the injured Shiloh like “he’s a baby in a cradle, not a dog in a box” (99). Ma opens her heart to the beagle, and it hurts her to see how scared Shiloh is of Judd. Ma’s love of Marty and compassion for Shiloh make her willing to try and “scrape up the money to buy him” (104).

Dad is a letter-of-the law man. Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers and that is the end of things in Dad’s mind. He believes Marty has no right to interfere with the way Judd treats his animals. Dad embodies the West Virginia norms of respecting others’ privacy by staying out of their business.

Dad knows the value of hard work, and just how much work it takes to keep the family secure. He drives two mail routes and then does more work at home, like hunting game, maintaining the Jeep, and chopping wood. He is strict with Marty, ensuring that Marty take responsibility for his actions by telling the truth to Doc Murphy and Judd. Dad is also pragmatic, tempering Marty’s dreams of veterinary college, and trying to open Marty’s eyes to the unfortunate prevalence of animal abuse. Dad accepts the reality of situations and tries to make Marty accept them too—but Marty wants to change things.

Although Dad believes that “what’s right” is following the law, he is sympathetic to Marty’s feelings. Dad shows his love for Marty in the way he initially asks after Shiloh, and finally allows Shiloh to stay with them while the beagle recuperates. He also comes to love Shiloh and is ultimately willing to find a way to feed the dog in exchange for the valuable happiness Shiloh brings. 

Marty’s good friend, David Howard, leads a more privileged life than Marty. David lives in a large house and has many toys. His mom is a teacher, and his father works at a newspaper. They have more money and a higher standard of living than the Preston family. David is more naïve than Marty about the practicalities of life, but their differences do not affect their friendship.

Although David and Marty are in the same grade, David “looks like junior high already” (91). Marty says that David is “thirty pounds heavier and bigger than me, and he still don’t care who sees him cry” (108). David is an exuberant, sensitive, gentle-hearted boy. David enjoys visiting Marty’s house and his thrilled when he gets to spend the day there. Marty initially does not trust anyone—including David—with his secret, but David’s sympathetic understanding and willingness to help clean the bloody grass from Shiloh’s pen makes Marty realize how true a friend David really is.

Marty’s sisters can be pains sometimes, but Marty loves them. Three-year-old Becky is empathetic to Marty’s feelings about animals, even promising him they will let their captured lightning bugs go when she sees him looking sad. Becky gives everyone, including Shiloh, her trademark “butterfly kisses.”

Seven-year-old Dara Lynn does not share Becky and Marty’s sensitivity. She morbidly asks Dad if he shot the head off the rabbit they are eating for dinner, a comment that turns Marty off his food. Dara Lynn also dislikes snakes—knowledge Marty uses to keep her away from Shiloh’s pen—and suggests Marty shoot a snake’s head off. Dara Lynn pesters Marty by copying him and trying to follow him, but underneath, she loves him. Dara Lynn comforts Marty, assuring him that he did not steal Shiloh, and lets him know that she would have kept his secret. Dara Lynn and Becky both adore Shiloh. 

Round of belly and kind of heart, Doc Murphy is the town doctor. Though not a veterinarian, he patches up Shiloh. While the doctor does not agree to keep Shiloh a secret, he does bring Shiloh back to the Preston’s house early because he does not want his patients to see the beagle. Marty thinks Doc Murphy betrays his secret when Judd says it was Doc who told him about Shiloh, but one of the doctor’s patients informed Judd; Doc Murphy merely told him the truth.