One Foot in Eden

Sheriff Will Alexander is the high sheriff of Oconee County, and his jurisdiction includes Jocassee Valley. Will is of both Appalachian and Cherokee heritage, which gives him a unique perspective on the ownership of the Jocassee land and Carolina Power’s plans to flood the area. As a World War II veteran, Will understands humanity’s hidden violence and desire for survival at all costs, and he uses this knowledge to his advantage in his investigations.

Will feels haunted by his past traumas and regrets, including Janice’s miscarriage and his failure to finish college because of a football injury. Because Will grew up on a farm and has a multicultural identity, he has difficulty feeling accepted, and he does not fit into the community in Jocassee or in town. Will’s country accent irritates Janice because she thinks that it makes him seem uneducated. However, even the farmers refuse to accept Will because he lives in town and has renounced Jocassee. Will therefore sympathizes with Holland because he understands how it is hard to reacclimate to civilian life after being in combat. Will feels grateful that he was able to become a deputy after World War II so that he could engage both his mind and his physical capabilities.