She has given all her love to her disabled daughter, Maudie, leaving no affection for Peyton or her own husband Milton, who finds solace in a shallow mistress.

In the last part, a recreation of a revival meeting, it is suggested that only the Loftis family's black servants genuinely mourn Peyton's death.

Styron incorporated many actual locales of his home town, the Hilton Village section of Newport News, Virginia.

In August 2012, a possible film adaptation was announced with Scott Cooper as director, and Kristen Stewart rumored in the lead role of Peyton.

However the production company stated: "While it's exciting to see all the interest the project is generating, the film is still in the pre-production process and no offers to cast have been made as of yet.