Essays on Light in August

In the summer of 1932, in the small town of Jefferson, Mississippi, a series of events takes place that will change the lives of its residents forever. Lena Grove, a young pregnant woman, arrives in town in search of the father of her child, a man named Lucas Burch. She is taken in by a kindly old couple, the Hines, and as she awaits news of Lucas, she becomes friends with their son, Christmas.Meanwhile, Joe Christmas, a mysterious drifter, arrives in Jefferson and gets a job at a local sawmill. It is soon revealed that Joe is mixed race, and he becomes the target of racism and hate. One night, he is attacked by a group of white men and barely escapes with his life.As the townspeople grow increasingly suspicious of Joe, he becomes more and more isolated. Finally, he is arrested for the murder of a local white woman, Joanna Burden. Though he denies any involvement in the crime, Joe is tried and convicted. On the night before his execution, he confesses to Lena that he did kill Joanna.In the aftermath of Joe’s death, Lena gives birth to her son, who she names after his father. Christmas Hines also dies, and Lena moves away with her baby. The town of Jefferson is left to grapple with the violence and hatred that has taken place within its walls.