Jesse James Chapters 1-3

Jesse James, The Outlaw:

At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the story until the narrator shot one of the detectives he was with to save his own life from Jesse James. I wasn't expecting that at all. I didn't know how Jesse was going to react to this man who killed his own until he started talking about Jessie's fiance from six years ago, Miss Blanche. He told Jessie that she had passed away. At this point, I felt that Jesse trusted the narrator because he had the information about Blanche and what she had to say to Jesse.

I thought it was interesting that in the next chapter, they accepted the narrator so quickly. They let him go to the fair without their supervision to see what people that of Jesse and his men. "I wouldn't pay a cent for your ridiculous monkey shines -- not one cent, sir. Better wash the black off your face and enter upon some honest occupation." I thought this was really offensive that he said this to these men. It's obvious that this story was written a long time ago because this comment would not be acceptable today. Anyways, after the fair, the narrator witnessed Jesse rob the treasurer and he couldn't do anything about it. For some reason, I have a feeling that Jesse and the narrator will become friends.

Starting to read through Chapter Three, I feel that Jesse was still in love with Blanche even after marrying someone else. He wanted to know everything she told the narrator. The story of Blanche was quite interesting and entertaining. She was married to some man named Tom Younger who she had a baby boy with. She left Tom when she went back to her home and parents. Tom stole the baby from her and was killed by Kansas City officers. Jesse made love to Blanche and they were to be married while he was going to restore the baby to her until her uncle made her give up Jesse. Jesse kept the boy hidden in revenge for not marrying Blanche. I think it's kind of strange for Jesse's wife to want to find where the child is hidden and run off from Jesse. She tries to persuade the narrator into running away to find the boy. By the end of this chapter, I wonder if this one eyed man will recognize who the narrator is and will tell Jesse.