The roguish protagonist who evolves from a cynical gambler to a wealthy planter, eventually questioning the morality of the slavery system he helped build.

The novel depicts the slow decay of the Fox family empire as the Civil War erupts, leading to the collapse of the antebellum social order. Key Characters

An enslaved conjure woman who acts as a "seditious center" of the plantation, using her knowledge of medicine and strategy to protect her family's future.

Stephen's son, who represents the transmission of racist attitudes and struggles with his family's changing status. Literary Significance