"That Evening Sun" gives us the racially divided town of Jefferson, where the powerful white people seem free to blame others, and the less powerful black people (personified by the tragic character of Nancy) have internalized the habit of blaming themselves.
The white kids in the story hurl accusations right and left, with only an occasional reprimand from their parents; meanwhile, Nancy feels her skin color means she's hellborn and doomed to the fate of death. Gloomy but powerful stuff.
Questions About Guilt and Blame
- Choose three characters in the story and describe whom they blame for Nancy's plight and why.
- What do you think the five-year-old Jason's accusations of others expresses? What might they show or say about Jefferson or the lives of the characters?
- Who might be the guiltiest person in this story, and why? Who might be the least guilty, and why?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Nancy bears much of the responsibility for her pregnancy and the resulting threat of her husband.
Nancy isn't really at fault for her pregnancy and the resulting threat of her husband.