In the Heat of the Night is a 1965 novel by John Ball set in the fictional community of Wells, North Carolina. The main character is a black police detective named Virgil Tibbs passing through the small town during a time of bigotry and the civil rights movement.
The novel is the basis of the 1967 award-winning film of the same name, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Sidney Poitier. Ball would feature Tibbs in the subsequent novels The Cool Cottontail (1966), Johnny Get Your Gun (1969), Five Pieces of Jade (1972), The Eyes of Buddha (1976), Then Came Violence (1980) and Singapore (1986),
[edit] Plot summary
Virgil Tibbs is an experienced Pasadena homicide investigator passing through North Carolina. When local police officer Sam Wood chances upon him waiting for a connecting train, he swiftly takes him into custody where Tibbs is questioned about a murder solely because he is black. This, in the first two chapters of the novel, sets the mood for the story: about the struggle and the prejudice that even the educated Tibbs experiences in the South. Despite these obstacles, Tibbs reluctantly agrees to help the local police force, commanded by Chief Bill Gillespie, in their murder investigation. He is the only black cop the town has ever seen.
[edit] Major characters
- Virgil Tibbs: Young homicide detective / specialist from Pasadena, California, African-American in descent and serves as the impetus for the racial conflict that occurs in the novel. Furthermore, Tibbs’s education surpasses that of Gillespie, the chief of Police of Wells. Tibbs is presented as a well educated, methodical individual that serves to break many commonly held stereotypes of African Americans. He doesn’t sing, dance, act in a wild or untamed manner. In fact, many characters specifically comment on his "white" attributes thus acknowledging one of the primary intentions of the novel-–to break common stereotypes and show that African Americans are no different than Caucasians.
- Sam Wood: A detective on the Wells police force working the graveyard shift. Sam, a relatively new officer on the force, used to work in a garage. Sam dislikes Gillespie largely because he feels Gillespie is not qualified to lead the force. Because of this, Sam consistently tries to get under Gillespie’s skin. Sam holds clearly racist views and arrests Tibbs largely because he is black. Through the novel Sam engages in an internal conflict over Tibbs’s presence. First, Tibbs clearly upsets Gillespie who is forced to work with him. Over the course of the novel, however, Sam comes to appreciate Tibbs work ethic and slowly begins to admire him.
- Bill Gillespie: A former jailor from Texas, the thirty-two-year-old is the new police chief of Wells. Gillespie was chosen for the position by the city council because he was from the South and was expected to help perpetuate Southern racial views. Gillespie is clearly underqualified for the position and when the murder of Mantoli is thrown in his lap he is unsure of what to do. Throughout the novel, the white privileged chief of police is shown up by the intelligent homicide detective from Pasadena. While Gillespie is aware of his lack of qualifications it stings him repeatedly that someone who he perceives as a subordinate is far superior at his work.
- Harvey Oberst: The second suspect in the murder investigation of Mantoli. Oberst was considered a primary suspect because he had Mantoli's wallet in his possession.
- Delores Purdy: A young girl of eighteen, pretending to be sixteen because of her limited intellectual ability. She likes to parade in front of her open window during the early hours of the morning naked to attract potential viewers. Daughter of Mr. Purdy, a mentally challenged citizen of Wells.
- Duena Mantoli: Daughter of the murdered composer, friend of the Endicott's who brought Mantoli to Wells in hopes of bringing tourist dollars to the city.
- Frank Schubert: Mayor of Wells. One of the few city council members who recognizes that integration is on its way and accepts it. However, he believes it must come at "an appropriate pace."
- Kaufmann: A friend of the Endicotts and assistant to Mantoli. Has a romantic interest in Duena.
- Ralph: Works in a diner in Wells owned by Watkins, a city council member. Displays strong racist views in the opening chapter and when Sam purchases food from the diner clearly for Tibbs.
- Mr. Endicott: One of the more affluent citizens in Wells and a member of the city council. Lives in the outskirts of town. Provides a place for Duena to stay during the music festival. Endicott is the principal figure in bringing Manoli to Wells for the music festival.
- Mr. Watkins: Owner of the diner Ralph works in, city council member. He threatens Gillepsie to get rid of Tibbs and bails out the two men who attack Tibbs. Likely to have written, or encouraged, the letter sent to Gillespie.
- Mr. Mantoli: Murdered at the beginning of the novel. He was in charge of running the town fair, and was a well respected man in the community.
[edit] Major Symbols
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- Heat: Heat is constantly referenced in the novel from the opening ‘stagnant’ heat in the first chapter to the ‘dirty hot dawn’ in the final chapter. The ‘stagnant’ heat symbolizes the anxiety, nervousness and tension in this small community on the brink of integration. The majority of the city council . Tibbs is not seen as an equal by either Sam or Gillespie. However, when Tibbs visits the Endicotts he immediately offers his hand and it is accepted – the Endicott’s are far more liberal than the racist community of Wells. The fact that the Endicotts live just outside of town reinforces their ‘outside’ perspective and acceptance of change. At the end of the novel, after Tibbs solves the case, Gillespie finally offers his hand, perhaps offering a truce or acceptance, but he is only willing to do this once.
- The Music Festival: Conceived by the Endicotts as a means of bringing much needed tourist dollars to the ailing community, it serves as a symbol for change – the bringing in of new ideas, new people to the ‘stagnant’ community and helping them evolve in a world where integration has become an accepted idea.
- The murder: This scene sets the tone of the novel right from the start. It tells the reader this book is going to be exciting and very suspenseful. It sets the conflict for the novel as well because the rest of the novel is spent trying to find out who killed Mr. Mantoli.
