Quentin Compson
Quentin Compson, the narrator of “That Evening Sun,” tells the story as an adult looking back on his childhood memories of the Compson family’s doomed black servant, Nancy. A sensitive and observant child, Quentin…
read analysis of Quentin Compson
Nancy
Nancy is the Compson’s black servant who works for the family while their regular servant, Dilsey, is sick. Due to her race and position in society, Nancy is very poor and is forced to…
read analysis of Nancy
Caddy Compson
Caddy is the second eldest of the Compson children and the sister of Quentin and Jason. Caddy is portrayed as naïve and curious throughout the story. She is fascinated by Nancy and the events…
read analysis of Caddy Compson
Jason Compson
Jason is the youngest of the Compson children and only about four years old when the events in the story take place. Jason is just beginning to learn the rules of the society roundabout him…
read analysis of Jason Compson
Mr. Compson
Mr. Compson is the father of Quentin, Caddy, and Jason. A wealthy white man, he employs Nancy and Dilsey as servants. Although Mr. Compson is relatively sympathetic towards Nancy (he lets her…
read analysis of Mr. Compson
Get the entire That Evening Sun LitChart as a printable PDF.
Jesus
Jesus, Nancy’s abusive husband, is a threatening figure throughout the story. Jesus, who carries a razor, threatens to kill the man who got Nancy pregnant, and Mr. Compson has told Jesus to stay away…
read analysis of Jesus
Mrs. Compson
Mrs. Compson is the mother of Quentin, Caddy, and Jason, and the wife of Mr. Compson. Mrs. Compson comes across as spoiled, pampered, and petulant. She is jealous and suspicious of Nancy…
read analysis of Mrs. Compson
Mr. Stovall
Mr. Stovall is a “respectable” white man who lives in Jefferson. As a “cashier at the bank and a deacon in the Baptist church,” he is held in high esteem among the community. Yet Mr…
read analysis of Mr. Stovall
Minor Characters
Dilsey
Dilsey is the Compson’s maid who is replaced by Nancy while Dilsey is sick.
Aunt Rachel
Aunt Rachel is a black woman who lives in “Negro Hollow” and may or may not be Jesus’s mother. The fact that Aunt Rachel sometimes admits to this and sometimes does not suggest that there are times when she is ashamed of her son’s behavior.
