In Chapter 9, Richie explains the peculiar relationship between Parchman prison and time, saying:

I didn’t understand time, either, when I was young. How could I know that after I died, Parchman would pull me from the sky? How could I imagine Parchman would pull me to it and refuse to let go? And how could I conceive that Parchman was past, present, and future all at once? That the history and sentiment that carved the place out of the wilderness would show me that time is a vast ocean, and that everything is happening at once? (Chapter 9)

What role does time play in the novel, and in what ways does Parchman prove to be “past, present, and future all at once?” Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• How are different characters impacted or shaped by time in different ways?
• In what ways does Parchman loom over the characters in the novel, regardless of age, race, or circumstance?
• How is the theme of The Violent Legacies of Racism and Poverty explored through the concept of time and the presence of Parchman Prison?
• Additionally, in what ways do these topics also help develop the theme of The Spiritual Unity of All Things, specifically through the character of Richie?