Voltaire once said that “The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe” (add citation). Humanity inherently looks for information that reinforce established prejudices, dogmas, and viewpoints. When faced with information that contradicts these views, man seeks to dismiss them by recreating their reality to conform to their sensibilities. This illusory reality exponentially grows until it destroys the reality it seeks to ignore, eventually causing man to only need his mind to convince himself of the supposed truth. William Faulkner intensely despised this aspect of humanity, and illustrated the dangers that grow from ignoring reality.
…show more content…
For example, Wash Jones displays this denial of his social class in his aggressive nature towards Sutpen’s slaves. When he tries to command the slaves, the slaves respond with “‘Niggers?’…‘Who him, calling us niggers?’” (Faulkner 171) and taunting Wash with “‘Why ain’t you are de war, white man?’” (Faulkner 171). Slaves on Southern plantations tended to be subservient due to fear of retaliation from the white owners, but this derisiveness towards Wash conveys a lack of respect for Wash’s authority over them. In response to this, Wash “…cursed them; sometimes he rushed at them” (171). This aggression acts as a means of coping with his lack of power. While the slave masters, like Thomas Sutpen, instil fear within the slaves because of their power, Wash’s hostility acts only to feign authority. This insecurity inhibits Wash’s social mobility, because it allows him to experience a false sense of power over others. Similar to this denial towards his relationship with the slaves, Wash views his relationship with Thomas Sutpen as a friendship, even though they are vastly unequal. Faulkner symbolizes this false friendship in how Wash “…had never tried to enter the big house, even though he believed that if he had, Sutpen would have received him, permitted him” (Faulkner 171-172). Faulkner’s self-correction of “…permitted him” (Faulkner 172) conveys that Wash participates in an unequal relationship and that he wrongly views this relationship as a friendship. However, Wash lies to himself by pretending they share a common goal. Faulkner displays this when Wash carries the drunk Thomas Sutpen home and says to him “‘Hyer I am, Kernel. You go back to sleep. We ain’t whupped yit, air we. Me and you kin do hit” (Faulkner 175). The phrase “Me and you kin do hit”
For example, Wash Jones displays this denial of his social class in his aggressive nature towards Sutpen’s slaves. When he tries to command the slaves, the slaves respond with “‘Niggers?’…‘Who him, calling us niggers?’” (Faulkner 171) and taunting Wash with “‘Why ain’t you are de war, white man?’” (Faulkner 171). Slaves on Southern plantations tended to be subservient due to fear of retaliation from the white owners, but this derisiveness towards Wash conveys a lack of respect for Wash’s authority over them. In response to this, Wash “…cursed them; sometimes he rushed at them” (171). This aggression acts as a means of coping with his lack of power. While the slave masters, like Thomas Sutpen, instil fear within the slaves because of their power, Wash’s hostility acts only to feign authority. This insecurity inhibits Wash’s social mobility, because it allows him to experience a false sense of power over others. Similar to this denial towards his relationship with the slaves, Wash views his relationship with Thomas Sutpen as a friendship, even though they are vastly unequal. Faulkner symbolizes this false friendship in how Wash “…had never tried to enter the big house, even though he believed that if he had, Sutpen would have received him, permitted him” (Faulkner 171-172). Faulkner’s self-correction of “…permitted him” (Faulkner 172) conveys that Wash participates in an unequal relationship and that he wrongly views this relationship as a friendship. However, Wash lies to himself by pretending they share a common goal. Faulkner displays this when Wash carries the drunk Thomas Sutpen home and says to him “‘Hyer I am, Kernel. You go back to sleep. We ain’t whupped yit, air we. Me and you kin do hit” (Faulkner 175). The phrase “Me and you kin do hit”