10 Light in August, Ch 19-21

1. Anathema: 1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed
2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : the denunciation of something as accursed c : a vigorous denunciation : curse
-Merriam-Webster Online

Page 472: "They would hear of his doings though, of how in the next summer after he removed to the country he invaded a protracted al fresco church revival being held in a nearby grove and turned it into a week of amateur horse racing while to a dwindling congregation gaunt, fanaticfaced country preachers thundered anathema from the rustic pulpit at his oblivious and unregenerate head."


2. The details of Joe Christmas's death are explained through the eyes of Percy Grimm, a war-obsessed white supremacist. Grimm collects a battalion of men to patrol the town and "protect" Christmas before his trial. Christmas makes a bolt for freedom and Grimm pursues him on bicycle, eventually winding up at Hightower's house. When Grimm busts through the door, Hightower tells him that Christmas was with him the night of the murder, but it is too late. Grimm rushes up the stairs to kill and castrate Christmas. The narrative then switches to that of Hightower, who reminisces on the lives of his grandfather and father. A slave-owning lawyer, his grandfather never truly understood his father, an abolitionist and aspiring preacher. When Hightower's father joined the military, his Yankee views led him to never fire a gun, and after his service concluded he became a doctor. Meanwhile, Hightower's grandfather was killed in Jefferson during the war. Hightower remembers growing up in the shadows of these great figures, and later moving to Jefferson because of this. He then sees an array of faces, including those in his life currently, and feels as if he is dying with the thunder of horses in his heart. The narrative once again changes, this time to a new character, a furniture dealer. He tells his wife of the strange experience he has had when he offered Lena, Byron and the baby a ride. The strange group has no specific destination, just a request to travel. They stop for the night and by pretending to sleep the man discovers that Byron and Lena are not married. Late at night, Byron tries an advance on Lena, but she rejects him. He disappears but shows up in time to catch a ride in the morning. They travel on, and the book comes to a close.


3. This section gave so much dimension to Hightower. For the first time in a long time he lets his guard down and examines his past and his future. By delivering Lena's baby he has unknowingly let himself become a part of a community, however small. After this incident he still refuses to lie for Joe Christmas's sake, but when Grimm charges into his house he bears false witness in an attempt to save the man. By doing so, Hightower is overcoming a tremendous obstruction: he is doing something for another individual, regardless of the consequences he will face as repurcussion. He regains some dignity and humanity in his actions. Hightower then analyzes his life, particularly the "ghosts" that have haunted him since his youth. His desires and oddities are explained by his reflections and the reader is left to sympathize instead of ostracize. He is a torn character from a line of torn characters. His grandfather could not understand his son, who was so divergent from himself. His father joined a war on a side he could never support, perturbing him and altering him for the rest of his life. These two characters played an immense part in Hightower's life; it is no wonder he is a torn being. Growing up he gazed in wonder at his grandfather's confederate uniform. He heard the tales of the glory of these two powerful men and their conflicting opinions. He became obsessed, and his means of fulfilling his goals corresponding to this obsession involved marrying his wife and moving to Jefferson. Once in Jefferson, his wife became unfaithful and he was rejected by the community. Eventually he gave up his fight and withdrew entirely. I believe that this egress from society seemed easier to him than being shunned persistently. After he finally intercedes on the account of another, Hightower experiences "thundering" like hooves in his heart. I believe this is symbolic of his death or near death. It's ironic that the first day he truly lives also happens to be the day of his death. It seems to me as if he has been holding onto his pain and exclusion for so long that he doesn't even realize the affect it has on him until he is finally able to release it. When he is able to let go of his past, he finds that his body is weary and ready to expire. It is not a painful or untimely death; rather, he is finally able to pass into peace.


4. My first question upon completing the novel is regarding Percy Grimm. We discussed in class how he seems to be an aggregate of several characters. I definitely recognize the traits of Joe Christmas. Which other characters are included? Joanna Burden? Gail Hightower?

My second question is whether Faulkner intended the circularity that is apparent at the conclusion of the novel. The story begins and ends with the same action taking place: Lena, traveling by foot. Do other aspects of the story provide circularity as well? It seems interesting that life in Jefferson goes on, unaffected, when the week ends.

My third question is over the significance of Percy Grimm's name. Once again, we touched on this in class, but never came to a definitive solution. Does Grimm represent the Grimm reaper? This seems a stretch to me.