The physical descriptions of Hightower during Bunch’s telling of Christmas’ story paint a picture of the Reverend that is rife with contradictions. His calm voice “sounds light, trivial, like a thistle bloom falling into silence without a sound, without any weight” and is belied by “the still, flaccid, big face…suddenly slick with sweat” (89). His meditative posture resembles “that of an eastern idol” and clashes with the Christian title of Reverend he once held (90). He does not say or do much during his exchange with Bunch, so his limited  dialogue and Faulkner’s descriptions of his body are supposed to give readers a sense of his feelings about race.

Knowing Hightower’s history as a proud descendant of Confederates gives us insight into how we might read the contradictory descriptions of his speech and actions. Hightower hasn’t heard the news of Burden’s death yet. The first bit of gossip he is presented and has to accept is that Christmas is black. His body contorts in separate parts and ways as if it were the features of a face trying to maintain airs: “There seems to come over his whole body, as if its parts were mobile like face features, that shrinking and denial” (89). Though his voice is light and airy, his physical reaction is a manifestation of the Confederate pride in his bones. His body wants to reject the new addition to his brain, the knowledge that Christmas is part black.

Knowledge of Christmas’ heritage has visibly disturbed Hightower. There is not another mention of  the features of his body demonstrating a denial, but the sweating continues steadily has Bunch relates to Hightower Christmas’ crime. Perhaps the movements that the narrator noted in Hightower’s body are a series of microexpressions that he cannot control but reveal one’s true fears or emotions

At the end of the story the sweat is transformed into tears: “Hightower with that look compassionate and troubled and still…with his eyes closed and the sweat running down his face like tears” (100). His whole body is crying at the news of black on white violence. But to reiterate the troubled upbringing of a man who reveres Confederate ancestors, his first words at the end of the story are not about the murder but to ask if it is “certain, proved that he has negro blood” (100). He prioritizes knowing Christmas’ true racial identity before offering condolences, expressing sympathy, or asking about any other part of the case. His response to the news is punctuated with  the lament “Poor man. Poor mankind” (100). This is a loaded phrase that could be read as Hightower’s complete disavowal of Confederate ideology. As a former reverend, he could be expressing pity for a man who will surely be lynched if Bunch’s story is true. However, when Hightower has a chance to defend Christmas’ life and provide him with an alibi, he refuses.

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