Violence and Trauma

Where it surfaces

• The Homecoming

  Wully's war experience, including the death of his brother Allen and his own physical and psychological wounds, underscores the lasting impact of violence.

• V

  Wully's murderous rage and Chirstie's traumatic fear of men are central, with the gun symbolizing her trauma and self-defense.

• XIV

  Wully's rage and fantasies of killing Peter, Chirstie's fever and terror, and the memory of her assault drive the chapter's emotional core.

• XV

  Wully's concealed gun and murderous intent, Chirstie's haunted fear, and Libby's hysterical grief all underscore the psychological and physical violence lurking beneath daily life.

• XVI

  The search is shadowed by the potential violence of Peter's disappearance, and the memory of the lost child Jennie Price underscores the trauma of such events.

• Chapter XVII

  The unresolved disappearance of Peter Keith creates a climate of fear and guilt, with Chirstie and Wully haunted by the possibility of violence and its moral weight.

• XVIII

  Wully's murderous intent towards Peter and the psychological toll of the search on the community.

• The Decision to Move to Town

  Chirstie's extreme fear and flight from Squire McLaughlin reveal the lingering trauma from Peter Keith's return, driving Wully's decision to leave the farm.

• XXI

  Chirstie's past act of shooting Peter and the ongoing trauma of his presence haunt the marriage, culminating in a violent confrontation of emotions.

• XXII

  Peter's battered, dying body and the memory of his violence against Chirstie haunt the journey home, shaping Wully's and Chirstie's emotional states.