Keywords

Whenever a character has suffered a loss of social status, in particular those characters formerly connected with the prominent families of Jefferson. For example, Dan Grinnup who is Louis Grenier's family. J. Burgers

Whenever there is a leveling force that allows different classes to meet on an equal playing field. In this particular example it is the horse race in The Reivers in which class and status don't matter to the observers.

This entry can refer both to, and beyond, the physiological to denote the inability to achieve an aim, dream or ambition. In Absalom 149.4, Sutpen provides an example; he still has the same ruthless ambition, but can no longer realize it, reduced as he is to tending his store and drinking with Wash Jones. JC