Guilty Verdict

"Every time he shut his eyes, trying to sleep, Mr. Thompson's mind started up and began to run like a rabbit, it jumped from one thing to another, trying to pick up a trail here or there that would straighten out what had happened that day he killed Mr. Hatch...he knew that it was not right...killing Mr. Hatch was wrong from start to finish" (276-277).

"Guilt" is the overarching theme in Noon Wine. Mr. Thompson constantly tried to convince himself that what he did was the right thing to do; however, he knew deep-down that killing Hatch was an evil act. The expressions on the faces of his neighbors, wife, and sons were what stopped him from denying the immorality of his action and come to the terms that he was in fact, guilty. The guilt inside his head is what ultimately leads to his suicide.