Winesburg, Ohio stands as one of the most influential works of fiction of the early part of this century. The longest story of that collection, "Godliness," has drawn little criticism, possibly because of its very puzzling nature. This study attempts to shed light on an aspect of the story as yet untouched uponc a parallel oetween the story's protagonist and the Biblical figure Cain. Such an interpretation has a direct bearing upon the theme of the work, which has, I believe, to this date been misunderstood.