51 pages 1 hour read

William Faulkner

Sanctuary

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1931

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Chapters 9-17

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 9 Summary

Ruby listens as Gowan snores in the next room with Temple. Goodwin enters the room and tells Temple he wants the raincoat she has, and she gives it to him. Ruby watches as Popeye and Tommy return, and Tommy joins her in watching as Popeye stands above Temple and Gowan on the bed. Popeye leaves, followed by Tommy. Ruby enters and wakes Temple up. Temple panics at Ruby standing above her but calms down when she realizes who it is. Ruby offers to get her someplace else and takes her to the barn. Temple panics over a rat, to Ruby’s annoyance, but they stay in the barn together.

Chapter 10 Summary

The next morning, Ruby is making breakfast when a hungover and beaten Gowan walks in. She tells him that Temple is alright and that she stayed with her in the barn until morning. Gowan says he’ll go to get a car and bring Temple back to school, which should make everything alright again. Ruby tries to convince the obviously unwell Gowan to eat something before leaving, but he ignores her, intent on getting a car. As Gowan walks, he comes across the wrecked car and can only half remember the events of the previous day.