The Uncalled · Theme
Community and Gossip
How The Uncalled develops Community and Gossip.
The small-town setting is defined by pervasive gossip, as characters like Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Smith constantly surveil and judge others, shaping public opinion and influencing Fred's fate.
Where it surfaces
- I
The women's conversation is filled with judgment, gossip, and a reluctance to help, highlighting the community's role in shaping social reputation.
- II
The women engage in a hive-like drone of conversation, speculating about the preacher, Margaret's life, and her salvation, revealing the community's judgmental nature.
- III
The women's meeting exemplifies how the community collectively decides Fred's fate, with gossip and personal judgments shaping the discussion.
- IV
The conversation between Miss Prime and Hodges highlights the pervasive gossip in the town and the community's watchful nature.
- V
The chapter revolves around Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Smith's gossip-driven investigation into Freddie's fate, highlighting how the community monitors and judges personal decisions.
- IX
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Martin's tea-time conversation drives the chapter, revealing how the community scrutinizes and judges Fred's future.
- XIII
The scandal surrounding Sophy Davis fuels gossip throughout Dexter, and Mr. Simpson attempts to weaponize it within the church.
- XVII
The chapter highlights how Dexter's residents obsess over Tom Brent's and Fred's stories, and the Hodges' struggle to keep Fred's news private.