In the novel, "Light in August," all the main characters are in some way alienated from the society in which they live. Joanna Burden, a white woman who lives in a plantation house two miles from town is disconnected from the people of Jefferson because of her unusual way of life. She is a spinster who supports and helps the black race, actions that cause deep resentment in the white community. As a result, the people of Jefferson gossip about her and many are afraid to go near her house. She is a direct threat to the community's way of life, which is based on white supremacy, male dominance, and traditional religious values.

Joanna's practice of supporting blacks reaches back to her ancestors. Joanna's past is told through varying points of view, sometimes omniscient and then through first person by Joanna herself as she describes her past to...