Joe Christmas

Joe Christmas, also known as Joseph Hines or Joe McEachern, is a fictional character and a central protagonist, or antagonist, in William Faulkner's 1932 novel, "Light in August". He is an example of the Tragic mulatto, and is often described as one of the loneliest characters in American literature.

Joe Christmas was born to a white mother and a father of unknown ancestry, possibly Mexican. After his mother died in childbirth he was brought to an orphanage where he lived until he was 5 years old. He was adopted by white Christian parents where he lived until he was 17. He then became a drifter and alternately "passed" as white or black until he settled in Jefferson, Mississippi in his early 30s until his death.

Allusions to Jesus Christ

• Joe was discovered at the orphanage on Christmas night
• Joe Christmas is named after the Christian celebration of Jesus' birth
• Joe Christmas and Jesus Christ have the same initials (J.C.)
• Joe Christmas died at age 33, the same age as Jesus Christ at his crucifixion