William Faulkner Essay Example

aspects of southern history, Faulkner incorporates his background in drama to create tortured language within his novels according to Irvin Howe. In The Sound and the Fury, he employs narrative styles like 'stream of consciousness', pioneered by James Joyce, presenting a disjointed narrative style with chronological leaps for a distinct effect. This novel focuses on the downfall of the troubled Campson family as they grapple with their reputation. The title derived from Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 5, Scene 5 represents a tale told by fools signifying nothing - a theme incorporated throughout Faulkner's book. The fourth part delves into various themes and events within the Campson family using an interweaving and non-linear structure that adds complexity to the narrative. Additionally, Faulkner uses italics to highlight significant moments from the past or history; however, these may confuse readers requiring careful reading for full understanding. Critics often criticize this peculiar and unconventional style.Quentin, a character characterized by both intelligence and torment, exemplifies Faulkner's technique as compared to his own experiences at Harvard. While strolling through the streets of Cambridge, Quentin contemplates death while reminiscing about his family's estrangement. His intelligence is reflected in his tormented state. In the second part of the book, Quentin becomes obsessed with Candy's purity, virginity, and southern ideals of chivalry. This intricate section often attracts scholarly attention due to its sheer complexity (Schreiber, 2001). The third section reveals how economic factors shape the dynamics within the Compson family after their father's death. During this time, Quentin grows bitter and cynical as he supports his siblings. He resorts to blackmailing his sister into becoming their sole guardian without displaying any sensitivity or compassion

towards them. He then takes advantage of this position by stealing from her. Overall, the narrative unfolds linearly throughout the story, highlighting the conflict between recklessness and sensitivity within the Compson family dynamics.The question of whether one can possess both recklessness and sensitivity simultaneously is a recurring theme in Faulkner's works where he frequently explores different styles and places great emphasis on diction and character development, particularly when it comes to Candice.Faulkner's writings encompass a diverse range of themes and genres including emotional, subtle cerebral gothic,and grotesque storiesIn his stories, Faulkner often includes characters from diverse social backgrounds, such as slaves, descendants of slaves, impoverished whites, southern aristocrats, and working southerners. In a 1956 interview with the Paris review, Faulkner advised aspiring writers to pursue fields like surgery or bricklaying instead of focusing on the technical aspects of writing. He stressed that good writing and storytelling cannot be achieved through shortcuts or mechanical methods; writers must take a long path and learn from their mistakes in order to produce exceptional results. Instead of imitating themes found in other written materials, young writers should focus on personal experiences, skills, and individual style. According to Faulkner's belief system, making mistakes is the best way for a writer to learn and bring glory to their work. Flannery O'Connor recognized Faulkner's significant impact on the field of writing from his position in the western region and remarked on how he distinguished between achievable and unachievable goals for writers. Some of Faulkner's notable works include "Barn Burning" and "The Knight's Gambit" (1949), as well as the trilogy 'Snopes' consisting of "The Hamlet", "The Town" (1957), and "The Mansion" (1959). In

this novel series, Faulkner explores the migration and transformation of the Scopes family while presenting poverty, controversy, and danger experienced by the protagonist Scopes with Ratliff serving as a moral hero.Faulkner incorporates comedic moments in the book by highlighting the eccentricities of the Snopes family, particularly Scopes' peculiar love for livestock. The first chapter focuses on lawlessness in Bend and its settlers' social and economic circumstances. A barn burning incident occurs when Abner disputes with De Spain over a valuable French carpet. The second chapter delves into Eula's childhood as she symbolizes a mythological figure while also exploring Ratliff's knowledge about Bend. Overall, the book offers a tragic yet ironic portrayal of post-war South's pretensions and decay during reconstruction. It also examines the rise of the humble present for the Scopes family along with their comical aftermath after the war. Throughout the story, various members of the Scopes family are explored including one who commits murder and conceals the body.When a cousin arrives seeking a share of that man's money, Mink attempts to retrieve it from his corpse under observation by dead man's dogs.This humorous moment reflects Faulkner's enjoyment in immersing himself within his narratives.Faulkner showcases his talent for using a grand style in his writing throughout each chapter of his family saga.The portrayal of quirky small-town characters reveals the deterioration of southern traditions over time, offering insight into society's dysfunctional psyche.The book's episodic structure enhances its entertainment value, featuring humorous and exaggerated scenes that reveal the dark depths and peculiarities of the town. Faulkner's widely anthologized story, "Barn Burning," explores themes such as conflicts stemming from paternal influence and historical revenge from a third-person

perspective. This narrative serves as a prequel to "The Town," "The Hamlet," and "The Mansion." It follows Sarty, a member of the Scopes family who is forced to flee after setting fire to his landlord's barn. Despite lacking evidence against his family, Sarty is summoned to testify in court, resulting in their expulsion from the town. This greatly affects Abner, who harbors intense hatred for society and struggles with controlling his pyromania. The consequences of the barn burning have far-reaching effects on the Scopes family and leave an impact on their father's legacy.

Faulkner demonstrates his mastery of modern literary devices in this short story, including stream-of-consciousness narration, lengthy sentences, culturally degraded settings, interrupting clauses, and vivid imagery depicting violence (Anderson 2007). Although these techniques have faced criticism in the past for unsettling audiences, they effectively portray the post-war situation in the southern region. Faulkner was accused of excessive mannerism and obscurity; however he employed these stylistic choices metaphorically to represent social and moral themes deeply rooted in history.Incorporating real-life human drama and historical events from over twenty-five years ago, Faulkner's novels strive to create a saga reflective of his own life experiences. The characters in his works emerge from the south's historical evolution and decline, while also delving into the arrival of newcomers to the region. To offer a more intricate portrayal of his literary creations, Faulkner utilizes distinctive techniques like temporal distortion and narrative styles such as streams of consciousness. Demonstrating mastery over contemporary elements, Faulkner's writing style encompasses culturally deteriorated settings, lengthy sentences, interruption clauses, and other modern devices.