March

March is mostly told from the perspective of Mr. March, a military chaplain assisting Union soldiers during the Civil War. In the opening sequence, Mr. March tries to save the life of a wounded soldier but fails. This marks the first death for which he holds himself responsible, providing a foundation for his increasingly guilty conscience. 

His wartime assignment brings him to a plantation that he recognizes from his youth, sending him into a detailed flashback: He first came to the plantation when he was 18 years old and working as a traveling salesman of household wares. The property’s wealthy owner, Mr. Clement, grew fond of Mr. March’s intellect and allowed him to stay for as long as he wanted. They became friends, but Mr. March came to know Mr. Clement’s racist ideology and brutal treatment of his slaves. Without Mr. Clement’s knowledge, Mr. March started to teach slaves how to read and write. His teaching endeavors were assisted by Grace, with whom Mr. March falls in love. When Mr. Clement found out about the lessons, he ordered Grace to be brutally whipped, and then evicted Mr. March from the property. Grace’s whipping filled Mr.