Intruder In the Dust – Main Character Conflict: Who is it?
Some people would argue that Lucas Beauchamp is the main character in William Faulkner’s Intruder in the dust. Lucas has been arrested for the murder of a white man, whom he did not kill. This situation of circumstance would lead the reader to believe that Lucas is in fact the main character. However, although he may be a key factor in the story, a more thorough examination allows us to see that it is Chick Mallison and his development throughout the novel that is the main focus of the book. You see, throughout the book, Chick is a developing mind. From the beginning of the story he feels forever indebted to Lucas because Lucas had saved him once as a child. And for reasons he could not understand, Lucas wouldn’t accept payment as a reward. And that is the sole reason why Chick is the main character of this story. His example is for the rest of the town to follow, and at the end of the story they do. As Chick did before, the town feels indebted to Lucas for wrongfully accusing him of m
