Point of View

The tale of the Sartoris family, its Negroes and its relatives, during the Civil War and its aftermath in Mississippi, is told by Bayard Sartoris, only son of John Sartoris, Southern planter turned confederate regiment commander. Through Bayard's eyes, the reader witnesses the devastation of warfare fought on one's own land, the struggles of those who lose property, possessions and family members, and the ability of humans to endure the worst and emerge not victorious, but at least strong in the belief that their lives will move forward in a better way. The War begins as Bayard is a child, not fully understanding the concept until it comes to his own home. Because he is a child, moreover, the reader is given a child's response, both in thought and action. As the War continues, and Bayard experiences additional hardship and traumas, including the death of the...