Life in A Small Town

The undertone of this novel is the constant mention of how life functions in this small town. It is common for people to be born, raised and eventually buried there, without stepping outside of the valley lines. This is the preferred way of life for most, and it is exemplified through many of the characters in the story.

The primary example of pure small town living is the preacher. He does not hide the fact that people from outside of the town, specifically of differing races or ethnicities, are not welcome. If they do happen to reside in town, they will ultimately be forced out, allowing the town to retain its "purity." When young soldiers brought back wives from overseas, this is exactly what happened.

Other promoters of this way of life are Mr. and Mrs. Watkins. She was David's teacher, who held a...