Character Analysis
If Miss Burden represents one kind of typical Faulkner lady (the old Southern spinster) then Lena represents another one – the naïve traveler. Lena's travels begin and end the novel, and at both times she's searching for the father of her baby. Lena has a strong idea of what responsibility means – her baby should be near its biological father, and Lena is determined to make this happen. Lena's sense of responsibility and endurance in the face of suffering stands as a direct contrast to Christmas's social alienation and Joe Brown's pattern of running away from his problems. She provides some hope in the novel, suggesting that familial bonds can indeed bring deep happiness.