The last chapter concerning the Willson family might well be called “David’s Story.” It is a sad story of a southern liberal who fought unsuccessfully against his heritage. David is caught in the same system which is attempting to destroy Tucker. Yet it is not David (who is agonized) but, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10 – David WillsonSummary and Analysis Chapter 9 – Camille Willson
This chapter and the one following are complements to one another. Camille’s viewpoint in this chapter is only half of the story of the marriage; after we hear her side of the story, we will hear David’s case. First of all, Camille is not the often stereotyped, empty-headed southern belle. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 9 – Camille WillsonSummary and Analysis Chapter 8 – Dewey Willson III
Dewey’s nightmare helps explain his character, as well as helps us to understand the fate of the South for Kelley. In the dream, the southern soldiers are killed and decay in pools of death and sickness. The northern soldiers die and melt, but new soldiers are born from their pools […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 8 – Dewey Willson IIISummary and Analysis Chapter 7 – Dymphna Willson
Bethrah’s appearance in response to the advertisement for a maid causes a small stir in the Willson household. Dymphna is stunned, as is her mother, but Missus Caliban is pleased when Bethrah presents herself for the job. Each character’s reaction is based on a convention enforced by the black-white relationship […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7 – Dymphna WillsonSummary and Analysis Chapter 6 – The Willsons
This chapter examines the relationship between the Willsons and the Calibans. The primary focus is on the white family, but much of their lives depends upon their black servants. The two families throughout their history symbolize the slave-master relationship. In fact, the current generation of Willsons is unable to understand […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6 – The WillsonsSummary and Analysis Chapter 5 – One Long Ago Autumn Birthday
Kelley, in the five short pages that comprise the flashback chapter, focuses on several key points concerning race relations in the United States. Dewey Willson, on the morning of his tenth birthday, discovers that he has received a new bicycle for his birthday and begins to search for Tucker so […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5 – One Long Ago Autumn BirthdaySummary and Analysis Chapter 4 – Mister Leland
Mister Leland — that is, Harold — recalls a morning during the previous summer when Tucker bought him a bag of peanuts at Thomason’s store. As Tucker gave the boy the bag, he told him that he was aware of how Harry was trying to raise him. Mister Leland did […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4 – Mister LelandSummary and Analysis Chapter 3 – Harry Leland
In this third chapter, the reader is introduced to Harry Leland and is given the first hint that this particular day is going to be different from most. Harry, we learn, is a principled man but, like everyone, has his weaknesses. One such weakness is quickly apparent. Marge Leland, his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 3 – Harry LelandSummary and Analysis Chapter 2 – The African
The quotation from which the title of this novel is taken has immediate significance because the men on the porch are trying to understand Tucker Caliban’s salting his land, killing his livestock, burning his home, and leaving the state. Obviously, Caliban has heard a different drummer; these are not the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 2 – The AfricanSummary and Analysis Chapter 1 – The State
Kelley opens the novel with a short description of an imaginary southern state, including an early history of Dewey Willson and a brief paragraph devoted to recent history, noting the exodus in June 1957 of all the blacks in the state. Although the state is imaginary, it is very much […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 1 – The State