64 pages • 2 hours read
Jeannette WallsHang the Moon
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 5Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 5, Chapter 51 Summary
Sallie has been managing everything on her own since Rawley left. While she sometimes misses him, she would rather be alone. She reflects on the new addition to her family, Nell’s baby, Jake, and the liveliness in the Big House with Grace growing up. They are a family put together from different pieces.
Reading the Richmond Daily Record, Sallie learns about the murder of Georgette Rheims, killed by her husband in a jealous rage. Gus and Georgette were bribing a senator for permits to sell “medicinal liquor.” However, Georgette switched sides to save herself, assisting a federal agent in gathering evidence against Gus while engaging in a secret affair, leading to Gus killing her by the pool he had built for her. Sallie is intrigued by the story and reflects on the idea that some people believe Georgette got what she deserved, similar to how some saw her own mother’s death.
Part 5, Chapter 52 Summary
Sallie arrives at the courtroom to observe Gus Rheims’s trial. Gus, who is representing himself, delivers an emotional defense, talking about the breakdown of his marriage and his suffering. After a brief deliberation, the jury returns with a verdict of “not guilty on the grounds of temporary insanity” (287). Sallie is disgusted but not surprised. Gus notices Sallie and admits he had a hunch she would be there. They discuss Georgette’s reasons for seeking out Sallie, and Gus reveals that Georgette wanted to see the “the daughter of the woman who destroyed her family” (288): When Annie worked as a maid in Richmond, she had an affair with Georgette’s father, causing her mother to kill herself. Gus also discloses that Georgette found the moonstone necklace but did not return it to Sallie. Since the Duke never faced consequences for his wife’s murder, Gus kept the necklace “as a good-luck charm” (288).
Part 5, Chapter 53 Summary
The necklace, once a source of comfort, now holds negative associates for Sallie. Overwhelmed by the heat of the courtroom, Sallie rushes out to her car but is haunted by the smell of death and deception everywhere. Reflecting on her own actions, she realizes she may not be so innocent herself.
Sallie’s sleep is plagued by disturbing dreams. Suddenly, she awakens to a real fire. Smoke fills her room, and she rushes to Grace’s room and gets her out first. The flames intensify, preventing her from reaching the stone wing. Outside, Sallie instructs Nell to toss baby Jake to her, and she catches him safely. When it’s Nell’s turn to jump, she hesitates, but Aunt Faye pushes her. Nell “lands with a thud” (292), and Aunt Faye jumps with her nightgown on fire.
Part 5, Chapter 54 Summary
In the hospital room, Sallie is gazing out the window while Nell, Jake, and Grace are asleep, recovering from the traumatic event. Mattie arrives, offering comfort and suggesting they must move on from this tragedy. She believes the Bonds are responsible for the fire. Sallie, contemplating how to deal with the Bonds, sees a change in Mattie. She decides to entrust Grace to Mattie’s care and leaves, hinting that she needs to address some business.
Part 5, Chapter 55 Summary
Sallie, still in her pajamas and looking disheveled from the fire, heads to find the Bond brothers. When Sallie arrives at their home, she announces that she has come to end the feud. She offers to sell back the disputed bottomland to the Bonds at the same price they originally bought it for: $2 per acre. Sallie climbs back into her car, and Billy nods subtly, signaling that he accepts.
Part 5, Chapter 56 Summary
Late in the afternoon, Sallie and Grace stand before the burnt remains of the Big House. Sheriff Earl and deputies examine the smoldering ashes in the basement to determine the fire’s origin and find the Colonel’s sword in the ruins. Sallie decides to discard the sword as it is “part of the past” (298). When she reaches for her mother’s moonstone necklace, a voice in her head, unmistakably Annie’s, tells her that she is loved and should the necklace. This memory helps Sallie finally understand her mother’s sacrifices and motivations.
Tom arrives and expresses concern for Sallie’s well-being. Sallie, in turn, enquires about Tom and Amy’s situation, expressing sympathy for their ended relationship. They discuss the significance of the Big House and its history, “both good and bad” (300). Sallie hesitates to share her experience of hearing her late mother’s voice with Tom but ultimately confides in him. Tom encourages her to trust the voice and helps her put on “Mama’s” moonstone necklace. Sallie spontaneously proposes marriage. However, Tom suggests waiting until she is fully herself and her thoughts are clearer.
Sallie reflects on her family, including Aunt Faye, Nell, Jake, and Grace. She envisions a future where they redefine what it means to be a Kincaid. She thinks of Eddie and believes in fighting to “save the things you love” (302), even when it seems impossible.
Part 5 Analysis
In Part 5, Sallie’s separation from Rawley prompts her to rediscover her authentic self, a journey that unfolds through her introspective narration. The first chapter of this section provides valuable insights into this transformation. After Rawley’s departure, Sallie maintains a facade of self-sufficiency despite feeling “so damned alone” (282). Sallie’s aversion to marriage is reinforced by the troubled unions she has witnessed, including the relationship between Gus and Georgette.
The burning of the Big House highlights the theme of Memory and the Past. It is a metaphorical cleansing of the entrenched traditions of the Kincaid family to make room for fresh beginnings. This pivotal moment also triggers Sallie’s personal revelation, prompting her to reflect on her mother’s affection and reevaluate her notions of love and self-identity. Sallie takes a momentous step by visiting the Bond Brothers and expressing her desire end their grudge. Sheriff Earl’s retrieval of the Colonel’s sword from the ruins symbolizes the potential for the Kincaid legacy that the Duke represents to live on. Sallie’s decision to leave the sword in the wreckage represents her choice to let go of the past and build a new model of leadership.
Following the loss of the Big House, Sallie’s recollection of her mother significantly softens her heart and changes her perspective on love and intimacy, which highlights the theme of Loss and Loneliness. Her mother’s words reassure her that she may not have been the son her father wanted, but she is still worthy. This revelation encourages Sallie to embrace the relationships in her life and to hold onto her loved ones, even in the face of difficulty, rather than push people away as she did in the past. Her epiphany leads her to propose to Tom, reversing the traditional roles of the man asking the woman to marry him. However, Tom recognizes that Sallie is not in the right frame of mind to make such a life-altering decision and reassures her they can revisit the conversation. This interplay of personal desires, familial responsibilities, and societal expectations adds depth to the exploration of love and relationships in the narrative. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the novel ends with a sense of hope.
Part 5 also delves into the theme of Family Dysfunction and Fear of Commitment in Gus’s murder of Georgette. The result of the case highlights the culture of gender bias and victim-blaming that leads the community to assume Georgette provoked Gus into killing her, rendering him not guilty. Gus notes that “Duke Kincaid never did any time for killing his wife” (288), signaling that he knows the public will side with the powerful patriarch over the unfaithful wife.
The novel continues its use of figurative language at key moments to underscore the characters’ emotional development. Using a simile, the narrative portrays the new Kincaid family dynamics: “Five of us now. Like mismatched buttons that still keep your shirt closed” (282). This comparison reflects the diverse and incongruent nature of the family comprising Jake, Sallie, Grace, Nell, and Aunt Faye but emphasizes that they can still hold the family together. The court scene is a key moment for Sallie; employing a chain of adjectives, the text vividly conveys Sallie’s emotional turmoil as she exclaims, “I have to get away. Away from this loud, hot, stinking courtroom, filled with jeers and cheers and cruel laughter” (289). This description illustrates Sallie’s overwhelming sense of frustration as she witnesses a man who killed his wife evade punishment by blaming her, echoing the tragic fate of her own mother, Annie. The memory of Sallie’s mother is a key moment, as evident in the phrase, “You hear me, my brave, clever, strong Sallie” (298). This memory is a source of solace and affirmation for Sallie, as it reminds her that she is loved and wanted. This recollection plays a pivotal role in Sallie’s decision to give love another chance, culminating in her proposal to Tom, as it helps her overcome her deep-seated feelings of unworthiness and abandonment she has held throughout her life.
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By Jeannette Walls
