Light

Towards the end of Trueblood's account of how he basically raped his daughter while sleeping, he tells of how he ran outside after it had happened, after his wife, into the sun. He states, "I looks up at the mornin' sun and expects somehow for it to thunder. But it's already bright and clear and the sun comin' up and the birds is chirpin' and I gits more afraid then than if a bolt of lightnin' had struck me. I yells, 'Have mercy, Lawd! Lawd, have mercy!' And there's nothin' but the clear bright mornin' sun"(65). Going out into the sun and the imagery of the lightning is symbolic for his realization and coming to terms with what he has just done. He realizes that he has just raped his daughter and must face her and his wife and everyone else, especially himself and God. He expects his facing God will be at this moment through a punishment and screams for him to have mercy on him. Light represents truth and understanding in Plato's allegory of the cave and the Invisible man even states on page 7 that, "The truth is the light and the light is the truth." He realizes that despite his sin, the world continues to move forward and that he needs to move on with his life as well. This ability to move on makes Mr. Norton extremely jealous and confused as he tells Trueblood, "You did and are unharmed!...You have looked upon chaos and are not destroyed! (51)" Trueblood has had a revelation here in the sun whereas Mr. Norton still lives in sadness caused by his daughter's passing.