Pemberton In Ron Rash's Serena

Throughout Ron Rash’s novel Serena, Pemberton is a very predominant character. In the novel he possesses many defining qualities- including a lack of remorse, greed, and his love for Serena. Pemberton kills a couple of people throughout the novel and shows little to no emotions before, during, or after committing the heinous crimes. For example, he kills his long time friend and the father of his previous lover right in front of her eyes. “He grabbed Harmon’s shoulder with his free hand for leverage and quickly opened a thin smile across the man's stomach” (9). Pemberton’s greed affects his decisions in the novel. He is willing to do anything and everything to gain more money- including killing his good friend only because he believes …show more content…
“Pemberton raised his shunted arm and gripped the nurse’s wrist with his hand. ‘I’ll pump the blood.’ ‘I don’t think…’ Pemberton tightened his grip, enough that the nurse gasped. She opened her hand and let him take the pump” (206). After Pemberton wakes up, he immediately asks about Serena and goes to check if she is alright. This shows Pemberton’s compassion towards Serena. Pemberton is also very loyal and devoted toward Serena. As a sign of his loyalty and devotion, Pemberton respects her and seeks her approval for every aspect in his life and does not make decisions without her consent. For every single decision Pemberton has to make regarding his lumber company, his initial response is, “I’ll talk to Serena first” (175). Serena has such an enormous impact on Pemberton that it consumes him. He loses his true self and tries to change himself for Serena; therefore, making his character weak. Serena’s beauty hypnotizes Pemberton in a way that makes him very ignorant and blind to her manipulative behavior. Without Pemberton’s greed, lack of remorse, and weak sense of self, the novel Serena would be vastly different. Pemberton’s ignorance and Serena’s manipulative qualities work hand in hand in giving this novel its