Summary

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In the shadow of World War I's aftermath, the Sartoris family of Jefferson, Mississippi, grapples with the weight of their history and the scars of recent conflicts. The older generation exchanges tales that blend valor and folly, while the younger members struggle with their own tumultuous destinies. Amidst these intertwined lives, themes of pride, guilt, and the relentless pull of familial legacy come to the forefront.

Rekindling the Past

Shortly after the first World War, Will Falls, an elderly veteran of the Civil War, visits Bayard Sartoris, Sr. at his bank in Jefferson, Mississippi. He brings with him a pipe that once belonged to Bayard’s father, John Sartoris, a Confederate colonel. As they reminisce, the presence of John’s heroic spirit seems to suffuse the space, reigniting memories of the Confederate past.

Generational Echoes

After the bank closes for the day, Simon Strother, the Sartoris family’s long-serving attendant, arrives to take Bayard Sr. home. He shares news of young Bayard, Bayard’s grandson, who was spotted alighting from a train earlier. This younger Bayard, recently returned from serving as a Royal Air Force pilot, lost his twin brother, John, in France under reckless circumstances. Mirroring this tale is another from history, concerning the third Bayard Sartoris, who perished valiantly in the Civil War alongside his brother, the colonel, thus embedding their stories into family lore. These narratives are preserved by Aunt Jenny Depre, the octogenarian sister of the Civil War Sartoris brothers, who resides with the family. Her sharp wit and penchant for both honoring and mocking her brothers' legendary exploits highlight her belief that the same unyielding stubbornness pervaded both eras of Sartoris men, leading to their violent and impetuous behaviors.

Restlessness in Peace

Despite being home, young Bayard finds himself tormented by guilt over his twin's death and is driven towards reckless escapades. His attempts at taming an untrained horse lead to injury, and rather than seeking solace at home, he indulges in alcohol and disturbs the peace with his antics, which include serenading the town’s young women, Narcissa Benbow among them. His recklessness extends to the roads, where he drives chaotically. Against medical advice due to his heart condition, old Bayard joins his grandson for these rides, partly to curb his recklessness and partly out of a shared yearning for the thrill of danger. Narcissa, who once cherished John, confides in Aunt Jenny about receiving anonymous, indecent letters. Despite their impropriety, she can't help but feel a sense of flattery, unaware that Byron Snopes, a cunning bookkeeper at the Sartoris bank, pens these letters, outsourcing their creation to a schoolboy who extorts him for a pellet gun.

Homecoming and Unrest

Narcissa also welcomes her brother, Horace Benbow, back from the war. Horace, who served with the YMCA and picked up glassblowing in Italy, masks his timidity with a love for beauty. Though he dotes on his sister—naming a crafted vase in her honor—he disappoints her by continuing his affair with Belle Mitchell, a dissatisfied married woman.

Challenging Traditions

Another returning soldier is Caspey Strother, Simon’s son, who comes back with the notion that wartime equality in France should translate to equal footing at home, shaking the foundations of Southern societal norms. His stories of heroism are largely exaggerated, with his only real setbacks coming from gambling losses. Bayard Sr. dismisses Caspey’s claims with disdain. Meanwhile, Bayard Sr. develops a facial growth, which he lets Will Falls treat with an old Native American remedy, much to Jenny's chagrin. Her skepticism is proven unwarranted as Falls’s treatment proves successful, to the chagrin of ineffective specialists. Young Bayard, however, is not so...

(This entire section contains 937 words.)

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lucky; he suffers a car accident that leaves him with broken ribs. During his recuperation, Narcissa reads to him despite his disinterest in literature, and their bond deepens into an agreement to marry. The night before their wedding, Byron Snopes breaks into Narcissa’s home, retrieving his letters, burgling the Sartorises’ bank, and fleeing town.

Strain and Renewal

Meanwhile, Simon Stirgroups trouble within his church after misappropriating funds meant for a new church building, giving them to a mistress. He assures the outraged congregation that Bayard Sr. will cover the loss. Young Bayard finds fleeting solace in his marriage, Narcissa's pregnancy, and the changing seasons of plantation life. They partake in local traditions, like making sorghum molasses and possum hunting with Caspey, and share festive meals. Yet, memories of his brother haunt him, driving him to reckless abandon once more. A dangerous drive results in old Bayard’s death from a heart attack. Overcome by shame, young Bayard flees to the MacCallums, a family rooted in the earth, hoping their way of life might heal him. Yet, the peace he seeks remains elusive. On Christmas Eve, he leaves their company, spends a quiet night with a black sharecropping family, and eventually boards a train, leaving his past behind.

The Final Reckoning

The novel closes with Narcissa receiving a letter from Horace, who has gone off with Belle. Both she and Jenny receive financial requests from Bayard, now adrift around the country. Ultimately, Bayard agrees to test-fly a perilous aircraft, a decision that leads to his death just as Narcissa gives birth to their son. Jenny declares the newborn should be called John, but Narcissa, determined to break free from the Sartoris cycle of destruction, names him Benbow Sartoris instead. Simon Strother, caught in the consequences of his infidelity, meets a violent end. Jenny, left to tend the graves of the Sartoris men and the wreckage they leave, resigns herself to the role, accepting it with quiet fortitude.

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