Early in his life, Joe came to the conclusions that he had Negro blood in him even though he was able to pass for a white person. As he later acknowledged, he has spent his entire life trying to reconcile this fact and trying to find some society where he […]
Read more Character Analysis Joe ChristmasSummary and Analysis Chapters 20-21
As with the second part of the novel, Hightower’s narration stands between the central story involving Joe Christmas and the outer frame story concerning Lena Grove. By aiding with the birth of Lena’s child and then by attempting to save Joe Christmas, Hightower has re-entered the stream of life. And […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 20-21Summary and Analysis Chapter 19
This entire chapter is narrated from the viewpoint of the town. After the last chapter, in which Joe found a certain peace within himself, he then returns to the community and apparently allows himself to be captured. Since none of the action is from Joe’s point of view, the reader […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 19Summary and Analysis Chapters 17-18
Earlier in his life, Hightower thought that he had won for himself the privilege of remaining uninvolved in life. But gradually, since the appearance of Lena, he has slowly been drifting back into the stream of life. His re-entry into life is seen through the agency of Byron. Even though […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 17-18Summary and Analysis Chapters 15-16
Chapter 15 gives us an excellent presentation of a religious fanatic. By presenting him as the town sees him, Faulkner gives “Uncle Doc” Hines the quality of a freak, a fanatic, a vile type of segregationist, and a pathetic weakling. Even though old Doc Hines is not identified in this […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 15-16Summary and Analysis Chapter 14
Since Joe felt the need to kill Joanna out of a need to retain his individuality and since he could no longer run from his own self, it is now significant that after the murder, he makes no attempt to escape. He never leaves the surrounding countryside through which he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 14Summary and Analysis Chapter 13
This chapter handles the town’s reaction to the crime before we see, in the next chapter, Joe’s own actions following his crime. Hightower’s reactions in this chapter are central to understanding his character. Notice that when Byron Bunch discusses Lena’s fate with him, Hightower refuses to offer his house as […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 13Summary and Analysis Chapter 12
This is the central chapter of the novel, relating the events which were only hinted at in the first chapter when Lena Grove arrived in town and saw the column of smoke. Earlier, we knew that Christmas had killed Joanna Burden and the intervening chapters have given the motivations and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 12Summary and Analysis Chapter 11
Joe’s basic desire to reject everything from women is revealed in his relationship with Joanna. That is, even though Joanna leaves him food, he still prefers to steal it. And even though he had already seduced her, he prefers to violate her anew each time. With these acts, Joe is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 11Summary and Analysis Chapter 10
The years between Joe’s eighteenth year and the time when he appears in Jefferson are covered rather rapidly and we learn only that he has wandered about the country in ever widening circles. He is thirty-three when he appears in Jefferson, symbolically, the age of Christ when He was crucified. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10