Describe symbolism in That Evening Sun by William Faulkner

One important symbol in the story is the darkness. Dark serves many different purposes in the story. On one hand, dark represents the difference between black and white. Nancy receives different treatment than would a white woman threatened by her husband, or a white woman who carried a white man's child. While a white woman would receive police protection and community help to shame the father, Nancy is repeatedly beaten by Stovall and the jailer, and is left defenseless to await her abusive husband.

Darkness also symbolizes Jesus; Nancy is afraid to go home because he may be hidden by the dark of the lane to her house. This darkness also represents change, death and the unknown, and Nancy is being forced to confront these factors throughout the story. In response to these stimuli, Nancy begins to undergo a spiritual change; her attempted suicide and recovery become in a sense a "rebirth," and she must begin dealing with the new reality of a white child growing inside her. Her response to this challenge is fear and avoidance.