Mr. Gombault
Character Key Number:
868
Display Name:
Mr. Gombault
Sort Name:
Gombault, Mr.
Ever Present in Yoknapatawpha?:
Yes
Biography:
In both "The Tall Men" and The Town, Gombault is a federal marshal in the district that includes Yoknapatawpha. He is only mentioned in the later novel, but in the earlier story he plays a major role. One of Faulkner's most palatable lawmen, Mr. Gombault is repeatedly described as old, yet he moves "quickly, easily" (61). He displays a deep understanding of human behavior as he deals shrewdly with both Mr. Pearson and the McCallum family, and is perhaps one of the "Tall Men" of the story's title as the final line identifies him as a "tall, lean old man" (61).