In the Heat of the Night

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1965

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-7

Chapters 8-10

Chapters 11-12

Chapters 13-14

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Themes

Systemic Racism Hurts Everyone

Ball creates a setting brimming with racist behavior. By alternating between multiple perspectives, he shows how deep and ingrained racism is in Wells, South Carolina. When the story opens, Sam, a white officer sworn to protect his entire community, is reluctant to visit poor Black neighborhoods. Soon after, he casually remarks that Black people don’t feel pain the way white people do. The white chief of police is no better, sneering at the polite, well-dressed, and calm Virgil while doubting that Black men could earn large amounts of money. Ball uses main characters like Sam and Bill to show that racism permeates the town’s police department. It even impedes their investigation: They resent Virgil, so they don’t take his advice, despite his being a noteworthy detective. They’re only able to solve the murder after they overcome their prejudices enough to listen to Virgil’s expertise.

Virgil’s perspective further enhances Ball’s commentary. Virgil is an idealized version of Black excellence—a man who stays focused on his job and rarely loses his temper no matter the provocation. His rigorous professionalism makes the racist behavior of Wells stand out even more. Citizens refuse to speak with him, opting to stay silent than help a Black police officer. Others won’t open their businesses to Virgil, despite Wells’s struggling economy. Virgil responds to the city’s mistreatment with poise, performing his detective duties as best he can, benefiting a community that detests him. His resilience eventually wins over Sam and Bill, as intimate conversations with Virgil help these racist characters see the error in their thinking. For instance, as their partnership develops throughout the story, Virgil educates Sam, expanding his worldview and diminishing Sam’s racist mindset. With Virgil’s character, Ball encourages peaceful resistance and education to combat racist oppression. One thing Ball fails to consider, however, is the effect that constantly tamping down anger and frustration in the face of vicious racism would have on Virgil himself. Virgil is forever patient, never losing the opportunity to slowly illustrate his merits to the incompetent white men around him; a modern reader wonders what psychic scars Virgil bears from being forced to act as a racist-whisperer.

Compassion and Empathy

The white citizens of Wells aren’t only arrogant toward Black people, but each other. The interdepartmental drama of the police department shows the problems with arrogant and selfish leadership. The police department faces infighting, with Sam wishing for Bill to fail in his new job: “for a brief moment he allowed himself to hope that Gillespie would somehow make a public fool of himself and bungle the case” (11-12). Sam and Bill’s troubled working relationship reveals the consequences of behaving arrogantly and selfishly. Sam wants to help solve the case, but he can’t ignore his resentment toward Bill because of Bill’s attitude: “Sam resented, consciously, Gillespie’s hard, inconsiderate, and demanding manner” (18). Bill’s leadership style is aggressive and hostile. He demeans Sam, and he’s rude and inconsiderate to citizens who don’t hold power over him, like restaurant servers and mechanics. Bill thinks he’s being tough and resilient, when really, he’s creating a difficult working environment and an uneasy relationship with the people he’s meant to serve. Only after Bill improves his demeanor does his department catch the killer. Only when the characters work as a team, and give credit where credit is due, do they succeed.

However, compassion is complex. Enrico’s death becomes a cautionary example of being too kind and trusting. During Virgil’s investigation, he probes many citizens, and gains a clearer picture as to the type of man Enrico was: kind, sociable, and tolerant enough not to judge someone based on race or socio-economic status. Enrico’s trusting nature leads him to befriend Ralph, who, in turn, takes advantage of Enrico’s openness and kills him for money. In the end, Enrico’s trust, and compassion get him killed. His death serves as a cautionary message: Compassion is essential to living a happy life, but so is intuition and critical thinking.

Poor Infrastructure Harms Communities

Many of the problems that plague Wells come from poor infrastructure: The city has poor medical and educational services. Enrico’s murder, the inciting incident of the narrative, occurs because working class characters don’t have adequate resources, revealing the desperate situations of the poor. Ralph attacks Enrico because he needs money for an abortion. His job doesn’t pay him enough, and Delores doesn’t have access to a safe and affordable operation. They feel trapped, so Ralph panics. Delores doesn’t resort to violence, but she lies to the police in hopes of marrying Sam. She knows she doesn’t have the means to take care of a baby, so she’s willing to file charges against an innocent man to better her situation. Ralph and Delores lack access to safe and affordable contraception and medical procedures. They respond with violence and lies—actions that better social services could have prevented.

Sexism and misogyny are also rampant problems in Wells. Wells is male-dominated and patriarchal, and Delores suffers because of it. When Delores goes to the police department to file a report, Bill assesses her appearance and is ready to blame her for sexual promiscuity rather than a man for statutory rape: “Her clothes were much too tight and thrust her breasts upward and out in an exaggerated, unavoidable display. Gillespie thought she was headed for trouble if she had not already arrived” (99). Delores is a young woman coming to terms with her sexual being, but men in her community objectify, use, and judge her. Even Sam decides that peeping at her undressing is fine, and the men who take advantage of her, like Harvey and Ralph, get no comeuppance. The Wells community lacks the education and understanding to sympathize with Delores.

Educated characters offer hope for Wells’ flawed infrastructure. Ball uses Mr. Endicott and Virgil to suggest that investing in progressive thinking and education will help individuals and communities prosper. Mr. Endicott is a wealthy and influential member of the community, and he uses his influence to improve the conditions in the city. His friendship with Enrico is the foundation for the music festival, which promises to bring more business and tourism. Virgil stays because of Mr. Endicott, which in turn makes the police department more inclusive and functional. Mr. Endicott’s actions are inclusive and forward-thinking, resulting in a safer and wealthier city. His progressive mindset benefits Wells, showing that his behavior is admirable and helpful. Virgil is another educated character who helps improve Wells. He has received excellent police training in an inclusive police department in California, so when he brings his superior detective skills to the South, he helps them catch a killer. Virgil’s intellect inspires Sam and Bill: Both pick up police textbooks after Virgil arrives. His quality education and effective training benefit him personally, and he’s able to inspire others.