Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Part 1 is a collection of character sketches about some of the fascinating people who Berendt meets in Savannah, whereas the murder trial dominates the plot in Part 2. Why does the author spend so much time introducing the reader to characters—such as Serena Dawes, Luther Driggers, Emma Kelly, and Lady Chablis—who do not have much to do with Williams? What is their significance in the book?

Although Berendt meets many characters prior to Williams, Williams figures prominently in Chapter 1. One of the first sentences in the book is about Williams’s eyes, which are “so black they were like the tinted windows of a sleek limousine—he could see out, but you couldn’t see in” (3). Describe the nature of Berendt’s relationship with Williams. Citing evidence from the text, how well does the author actually know Williams?

To what extent is Williams privileged due to his wealth and his business reputation? To what extent is he discriminated against for his sexuality and his modest background?