Character Analysis
Mr. Lovelady shows up for all of one paragraph and is the subject of what some critics call the "Lovelady digression." Basically, when the adult Quentin nears the disturbing end of his narration, his story goes off on a tangent about this Mr. Lovelady. The digression might be a way for Quentin to delay having to tell the uncomfortable end of his tale.
But who is this Mr. Lovelady? We're told he's a "short, dirty man who collected the Negro insurance" (5.26) every Saturday morning. Since he's in this scary story, it's fitting that he has a scary background of his own. His wife committed suicide one morning, and Mr. Lovelady disappeared with their child, a little girl. A week or so later, he was back, minus his child. We're given no reasons for any of this creepy stuff. Just a spooky little digression Quentin throws in. Weird!