A Calamity of Souls

“What was memorable was the grand upheaval that would define and qualify the full measure of their deaths. It would fuel a calamitous surge of energy, like that of a sawed-off shotgun randomly discharged into an unsuspecting crowd.”

The novel begins with a description of Anne and Leslie Randolph’s death. The text uses a simile, where something is compared to something else using “like” or “as.” In this case, it compares the effect the Randolphs’ deaths will have to the impact of a shotgun fired into a crowd. This foreshadows the chaos that will unfold throughout the novel—protests, a media frenzy, violence, and, ultimately, more death throughout the trial.

“And he had always found it bewildering that she venerated a long-dead Confederate general at the same time she shed tears for the recent deaths of two men who held views diametrically opposed to all the Confederacy had stood for.”

When Hilly is introduced, Jack notes her complexities immediately. Although it would seem like simple hypocrisy—she mourns King and Kennedy while harboring racist beliefs—it turns out that her character is more complicated, as she once loved a Black man from whom society forced her apart. Additionally, she represents much of the population of the South in the 1960s: Even if people were not outwardly racist, they perpetuated racism by ignoring it.

“Now, I’m not a fan of this integration crap chiefly because I don’t like people tellin’ me who I got to associate with. But you don’t get in the way of anybody tryin’ to earn an honest livin’.”

Like his wife, Frank is also complicated. While he helps Miss Jessup and gives her a ride from work, he also admits that he is “not a fan” of integration. Like Hilly, he has grown up in a racist society, and as a result continues to perpetuate racism. Through Frank, the novel illustrates the importance of Overcoming Personal Bias; Frank is able to identify his bias and put it aside.

“Did they fight for this country? Did they get shot up? I did. I was. And this still ain’t my country for why I don’t know.”

Jack’s first meeting with Jerome introduces an important central idea throughout the text—what war means when it has no personal relevance. Jefferson realizes the emptiness of the Vietnam War and its ultimately futility, which lead to a lack of honor and respect for all three men, despite their service.

“But justice ran slow when it had to churn through people. Many of the major changes were still percolating, like water bubbling up to a desert floor.”

The above passage explores Racial Injustice and the Legal System. It uses a simile, comparing the enforcement of laws to water coming up into a desert. Despite the fact that many laws have been enacted and Supreme Court cases should guarantee the rights of Black people, legal changes are only the first step. DuBose is aiming to ensure that these changes are actually enforced throughout the country.

“A sign on the wall indicated the Colored waiting room was in the rear. He pulled down the now-illegal placard and threw it in the trash. Before last night he would have never thought to do such a thing.”

This is the first time the novel hints that Jack is changing. No longer is he ignoring injustice that he sees around him; instead, he is choosing to act on it. Even if it is a small act of removing a sign, it is still a step in the right direction—and an infinite change from who he was before: “Before last night he would have never thought to do such a thing.”

“‘That billy club of yours. What are the notches for? One looks new.’ Gene grinned and tapped the wood. ‘You know how some fellers mark the bedpost with their women? Well, this is sort of like that, only different.’”

This passage emphasizes Racial Injustice and the Legal System. Deputy Taliaferro, as an officer, is supposed to protect people. Instead, he shows off the number of Black men that he has beaten, unafraid of the criminality or consequences.

“Frank hadn’t cared about those reasons the first time he read the letter. Or the second or the tenth. He sat down in his recliner, lit a Camel, and took up reading the fine handwriting again. And as he did so a part of him began to glimpse reason behind the words.”

Frank sits down to read Jefferson’s letter about why he deserted the Army— something he has done many times. However, this time, after his conversation with Daniel, he finally begins to understand that fighting in a war is not automatically honorable, especially for the person doing it. Rather, it is complex, and can lead to guilt or anger. Daniel’s response is due to his country’s lack of support when he returned, while for Jefferson, it is because of his disagreements with the fundamental reasons behind the war.

“So long as we’re making confessions, I’ve looked at white people as the enemy all my life. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to see them any other way.”

This quote from DuBose explores Overcoming Personal Bias. The novel largely depicts white people with racist attitudes toward Black people. Here, DuBose acknowledges that she has spent so long fighting against white people that she struggles to see the good in them. By acknowledging her feelings, she is able to overcome them and form a relationship with Jack.

“‘I care about what happens to Jerome in ways you probably can’t understand. But I also have to think of the bigger picture.’ ‘What’s bigger than a man’s life?’ ‘You just don’t get it, Jack, being white.’”

This conversation between Jack and DuBose marks the beginning of their conflict, which will last throughout most of the text. Jack is focused solely on saving Jerome, and feels that DuBose is too focused on the impact the trial will have on the civil rights movement. Ultimately, the two strike a balance: Each will ultimately strive to prove Jerome’s innocence and help the movement.

“‘Colored hospital is a right long ways from here.’ ‘The law now says they can’t deny you care just because you’re Black.’ He looked surprised by this but said, ‘Well, doctors cost money.’”

Despite DuBose’s best efforts to help a janitor she sees at the hotel, she is out of touch with the Black community in the South. Just as she fails to grapple with Jerome’s situation, she fails to understand everything this other Black man has faced. She tries to help with his problems with transportation, money, and legality, which do not address the bigger problem of his inability to see a doctor due to decades of racism. Due to her position as an educated Black woman from the North, she struggles to understand his perspective.

“If he drove them somewhere and they left the car to go shopping or to a restaurant, Jerome would be sitting in this fancy car all by himself. If the police didn’t think he was the river for some white people, they’d arrest him for stealing the Buick. With the chauffeur’s cap on they’d probably leave him alone.”

Jack comments on how demeaning a chauffeur’s cap would be to a Black driver, like Jerome. However, he fails to understand what it actually means to be Black. DuBose points out that the exact opposite is true: The chauffeur’s cap likely protects Jerome.

“Jack smiled as he witnessed this unguarded side of DuBose. He had been dazzled, and intimidated, by her intellect and accomplishments. But now as he looked at her he thought, and not for the first time, that in addition to being a superb lawyer, she was also a lovely young woman.”

In an instance of foreshadowing, Jack notes how “lovely” DuBose is, hinting toward their future romantic relationship. The above passage shows how rare it is for DuBose to be “unguarded,” having needed to build up her defenses as a Black, female lawyer.

“I went down there and told ‘em, sure. But they asked me what I was wearin’? Was I flirtin’? When I told ‘em it was a man I work for, they say, ‘You tryin’ to get him to pay you more money?’”

Pearl discusses her rape, illustrating an important but little discussed issue of the time: sexism. The novel focuses on skin color, but it is also important to note Pearl and DuBose’s status as Black women. They must navigate a unique set of injustices as the two traits intersect.

“So our job is not to merely wait for the source of the hate to die, but to touch the minds of those coming of age so that racism cannot take root.”

In her conversation with Father Matthews, DuBose realizes that she does have something in common with religion—despite spending years distancing herself from it. Matthews points out that he puts much of his effort into focusing on youth, just as DuBose’s efforts in court are geared toward future generations. His solution for Overcoming Personal Bias is to combat hateful teaching with stressing the Golden Rule, which aims to stop bias from ever taking “root” to begin with.

“Then you would be wrong, Desiree. Frankly, you’re one of the finest lawyers I’ve ever faced. Professionally, I respect the hell out of you.”

Battle shocks DuBose when he compliments her and makes it clear that he is upset about the violence perpetrated against Jack. DuBose, at the start of the novel, sees people, such as Hilly, as racist or not. With Battle, she assumed that his actions as the prosecution means that he is racist and therefore a bad person. Although it may be true, the issue is also more complicated than DuBose wants it to be, with Battle acting from the pressure of his job more so than due to personal beliefs.

“The rain held off just long enough for the gravesite service to be completed, and then it came tumbling down like heaven was crying.”

This quote illustrates how the weather reflects the mood of the characters. At Lucy’s burial, it begins to rain, reflecting the somber tone of the attendees. It is a simile, where rain is compared to heaven “crying.” This implies that a higher power is also saddened by Lucy’s death and the racism and hate surrounding it.

“I walk and talk big, Desiree, because that’s the only way some people will ever notice me. I married a good man and I built up a nice business after workin’ my tail off for years. None of that would be possible without people like you. Not one damn bit of it. So…thank you.”

Shirley thanks DuBose for her work in the legal field. The quote outlines two different people needed to combat racial injustice: those who do so at the legal level, and those who do so in their everyday lives. While the two are not mutually exclusive—many people, like DuBose, do both—they are both equally important in ensuring that the laws are changed and then followed, ensuring equality.

“She turned quickly to look at the jurors and found, by her swift tally, at least nine who held looks of outright hostility toward her.”

DuBose’s thoughts explore Racial Injustice and the Legal System. During her first interaction with the jury, she can already tell they are antagonistic just because of the color of her skin.

“It’s always easier to follow, isn’t it? See, that way you don’t have to face the hard problems. You don’t even have to think for yourself. You just do what others want you to do, become the person they tell you that you already are.”

Hilly’s words exemplify the change the importance of Overcoming Personal Bias. For the first time, she acknowledges that she has chosen to “follow” society all of these years, so much so that she has internalized the racism she saw around her.

“Not only is that a powerful foundation for a successful appeal, it’s plausible grounds for me to go directly to federal court under the Civil Rights Act. Not to mention every TV network and newspaper in the country. […] Then we use that fact, once it’s confirmed, to demand a mistrial, a new judge, and a jury of the Washingtons’ peers.”

Excited by the news that Ambrose was a member of the KKK, DuBose already makes her plans to appeal and declare a mistrial. However, she fails to recognize that—with a mistrial—the process would need to start again, leaving the Washingtons in jail for an indefinite amount of time. After Jack once again expresses how bothered he is by this, DuBose finally acknowledges his concerns and agrees not to reveal the information, marking how she has changed.

“We all actually agree on a lot of fundamental principles. Yet I never hear anyone talk about that. Just about what we don’t agree on. What divides us, not what unites us.”

In the conclusion of the novel, Jack finally decides to speak with the press. Having learned from DuBose, he realizes that the individual trial is important— but so, too, is what it means to the civil rights movement. He tries to change the views of at least some of the people in his community, and, to his surprise, sees agreement in the crowd.

“‘A lot of white folks were there, too,’ [Hilly] had added. ‘They didn’t know the family, but came to pay their respects.’”

At Jerome’s funeral, Hilly reveals that many white people attended as well, showing The Importance of Family and Community Support. The fact that white and Black people gathered—together—to mourn the death of a Black man exemplifies the importance of the trial in working toward equality.