Quentin Compson, now twenty-four, reflects on the evolving landscape of Jefferson, Mississippi, particularly the changes that have occurred over the past fifteen years. The town has witnessed shifts in how daily tasks are conducted, yet some traditions linger, echoing the past. Quentin’s memories transport him back to 1899, a year filled with poignant events and lasting impressions.

The Washerwomen’s Role

In the closing years of the 19th century, the streets of Jefferson echoed with the rhythmic footsteps of African American washerwomen, including Nancy, laden with bundles of laundry balanced on their heads. These women, like Nancy, worked tirelessly for white families such as the Compsons, shouldering both the physical burden of dirty clothes and the societal weight of segregation. While the method of transport has since shifted to automobiles, the labor remains largely in the hands of African American women, a testament to both change and continuity in the town's social fabric.

A Childhood Perspective

Quentin, then only nine, was the oldest of the Compson siblings and observed the world around him with an astute awareness of his family’s dynamics. He watched as Nancy, their part-time cook and full-time washerwoman, became a fixture in their lives, especially when Dilsey, their regular help, was unavailable. Nancy’s life was marked by hardship and her estranged husband, Jesus, lurked ominously on the fringes of both the black and white communities, a man whose face bore the scars of past violence.

A Violent Encounter

Nancy’s life was punctuated by an altercation that unfolded on Main Street, right before the eyes of the townsfolk. She confronted Mr. Stovall, a bank clerk and church deacon, demanding payment for services rendered, which included sexual favors. This confrontation turned violent when Stovall struck Nancy, knocking her down and causing significant injury. The altercation led to Nancy's arrest on unclear charges, and during her time in jail, her distress was palpable as she sang mournfully about her plight and attempted unsuccessfully to hang herself. She faced brutal treatment from the jailer, who, upon discovering her pregnancy, beat her regardless of her condition.

A Tense Reunion

Upon her release, Nancy is visited by Jesus in the Compson kitchen, where their conversation brims with tension and veiled threats. Through suggestive language, their talk centers around her pregnancy and the unknown identity of the father. Jesus, certain he is not the father, ominously vows to kill the man responsible, fueling Nancy's fear of her husband, whom she suspects harbors lethal intentions towards her. Jesus’s subsequent disappearance, reportedly to Memphis, leaves Nancy in a state of heightened anxiety.

Seeking Refuge

Fearing for her life, Nancy pleads with the Compsons for protection, refusing to return to her cabin, which she believes Jesus is stalking from the shadows. She is allowed to sleep in their kitchen briefly and even shares the children's room one night. Upon Dilsey's return, however, Mrs. Compson insists Nancy leave, forcing her to confront her fears. Desperate and terrified, Nancy’s cries are described by Quentin as "a sound that was not singing and not unsinging." She persuades the children to accompany her to her cabin by engaging them with stories, hoping to delay her inevitable solitude.

A Climate of Fear

The youngest Compson, Jason, finds himself overwhelmed and desires to return to the safety of his home, while Quentin and Caddy become more apprehensive with each passing moment. Their father, Mr. Compson, arrives and, despite acknowledging Nancy’s terror, dismisses the immediacy of her danger. He escorts his children back home, leaving Nancy alone in her cabin, consumed by fear. Convinced that her fate is sealed, she leaves her door open, resolved to face whatever comes, yet she keeps a light burning, unwilling to meet her end in darkness.