The Violent Bear it Away Summary

Part One

Chapter one:

"The Violent Bear it Away" is the story of Mason Tarwater, a man who considers himself to be a prophet. At the beginning of part one, Tarwater has been dead for half a day. His great nephew, Francis Marion Tarwater, is beside himself, not knowing what to do about the death and subsequent burial. This would be a difficult job for Francis, who would be required to dig a hole ten feet deep and then drop the old man and his wooden pine box inside. While looking around the farm, Francis finds Mason's still. The fact that Mason had a still is shocking to Francis, since Mason always professed to be a God fearing, non-sinning man. Francis stays by the still and gets unabashedly drunk on moonshine. Meanwhile, a Negro neighbor...