Throughout the “In the Heat of the Night” novel, the racism theme is displayed many times. but as the story and investigation moves on, some characters such as chief Gillespie and Sam Wood slowly change their racist mindset to solve the murder of George Endicott. The way these characters behave in the beginning of the book show the challenges in changing attitudes of racist people towards the African Americans living there.
At the beginning of the book, Gillespie seems more focused on getting someone convicted and then moving on, but as the plot goes on, Gillespie seems to realise that justice is more important then sustaining his reputation. This is supported by two events in the book. The first one was when Sam Wood arrested Virgil in the train station, only because he was …show more content…
Gillespie risks his reputation many times to keep a good relationship with Virgil. Because of these events I feel that the Chief has become less racist, and has become friends with Virgil. One event from the story that supports this is when Virgil gets attacked by the two guys, afterwards, Gillespie arrests the guys. Chief Gillespie starts to see that him and Virgil are equals, and he learns that he can have a friendship with a black man. After discovering that Virgil is a cop, Gillespie askes Virgil to examine the body or George Endicott. While Virgil is examining the body, Gillespie seems to realise that Virgil is smarter than any of the other cops. Gillespie also realizes that Virgil may have more knowledge and experience than himself. This is when I think the chief starts to view Virgil as an equal. Later on in the book, Gillespie allows Virgil to stay in his office while the pregnant girl tells Gillespie how Sam Wood impregnated her. Because of these events, especially the situation in the chief’s office, Gillespie shows that he trusts Virgil, and sees him as an
At the beginning of the book, Gillespie seems more focused on getting someone convicted and then moving on, but as the plot goes on, Gillespie seems to realise that justice is more important then sustaining his reputation. This is supported by two events in the book. The first one was when Sam Wood arrested Virgil in the train station, only because he was …show more content…
Gillespie risks his reputation many times to keep a good relationship with Virgil. Because of these events I feel that the Chief has become less racist, and has become friends with Virgil. One event from the story that supports this is when Virgil gets attacked by the two guys, afterwards, Gillespie arrests the guys. Chief Gillespie starts to see that him and Virgil are equals, and he learns that he can have a friendship with a black man. After discovering that Virgil is a cop, Gillespie askes Virgil to examine the body or George Endicott. While Virgil is examining the body, Gillespie seems to realise that Virgil is smarter than any of the other cops. Gillespie also realizes that Virgil may have more knowledge and experience than himself. This is when I think the chief starts to view Virgil as an equal. Later on in the book, Gillespie allows Virgil to stay in his office while the pregnant girl tells Gillespie how Sam Wood impregnated her. Because of these events, especially the situation in the chief’s office, Gillespie shows that he trusts Virgil, and sees him as an