Major Themes In Faulkner's "Light In August"
Light In August:
A Study of 20th Century Man's Search for Self
A Study of the Origins of Evil"...a man's future is inherent in
that man..."
-Faulkner in the University. p.139
Faulkner's Light in August is a metaphor. In fact it is many
metaphors, almost infinitely many. It is a jumble of allusions, themes,
portraits, all of them uniquely important, many of them totally unrelated.
In fact no 20th century writer has even approached the sheer quantity of
symbolism Faulkner packed into every page, with, perhaps, the exception of
James Joyce who went so far as to surpass Faulkner in this regard. So
obviously it would be foolish to attempt to trace every line, follow ...
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neither coming nor going, simply moving. Immediately
the book draws into her past, relating events leading up to this point,
explaining her motives. One gets a definite feel for her character, and
settles into her narrative, but as soon as this happens, the book switches
gears, turning instead to a vague character, Joe Christmas. With little
introduction, or warning, the book reels into Joe's past, catching the
reader totally unaware and throwing off the entire continuity of the book.
Faulkner's desire for unity and coherence in the pattern is not as strong
as is his desire for truth to individual response (Reed, p.123). Thus Lena
is a frame, she serves only to accentuate Christmas's story, by contrast.
Faulkner demands the reader follow, and realize this.
So we now see Christmas's childhood. From the beginning, Christmas
is two things. One, he is a totally clean slate in that he has no idea
whatsoever of his past, his origins. He is neither predestined to good nor
evil, ...
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Major Themes In Faulkner's "Light In August". (2005, May 5). Retrieved April 25, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Major-Themes-In-Faulkners-Light-August/26457
"Major Themes In Faulkner's "Light In August"." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 5 May. 2005. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Major-Themes-In-Faulkners-Light-August/26457>
"Major Themes In Faulkner's "Light In August"." Essayworld.com. May 5, 2005. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Major-Themes-In-Faulkners-Light-August/26457.
"Major Themes In Faulkner's "Light In August"." Essayworld.com. May 5, 2005. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Major-Themes-In-Faulkners-Light-August/26457.
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