Over the course of the 30 years or so related in the novel, the family falls into financial ruin, loses its religious faith and the respect of the town of Jefferson, and many of them die tragically.
小説に語られる30年ほどの間に、一家は財政的に破綻し、信仰心を失い、ジェファーソンの町の尊敬も失い、多くの者が悲劇的な死を迎える。