Absalom, Absalom!

Heterogeneous Narrative Perspective Absalom, Absalom! is a novel written in 1936 by William Faulkner, the winner of two Pulitzer’s and a Nobel Peace prize for his many literary masterpieces. Faulkner has gained a celebrated reputation for his depiction of life in the American South. Though critics have established Absalom, Absalom! as Faulkner’s most difficult writing, it is also revered for its intellectually enriching metaphors and the complicated spiraling of events through narration. Faulkner, masterfully incorporates themes of miscegenation, progeny, race, class, and misogyny, into one captivating fictitious novel. Ultimately, Faulkner succesfully constructs a work that capsulate his beliefs regarding the Confederate South. Through the…

The relationship between the familiar and the uncanny was part of the writing Sigmund Freud produced on the elusive and slightly disconcerting topic of the feeling of the uncanny in “The Uncanny.” Freud made the claim that familiar experiences can produce an uncanny feeling because of the repression of a certain idea, which lends the “frightening” feeling often associated with the uncanny. He goes on to say that the act of repression is what gives familiar experiences the potential to be…

2. The theme of clocks and time is recurring throughout the novel. The clock provides symbolism and visual imagery as to the lives and irrevocable things that occur throughout them. 3. Quentin Compson is the oldest of four children born to Jason and Caroline Compson. Quentin is the most intellectual equipped of the children and seems to have the greatest potential to be successful in life. Due to his hierarchy over his siblings, Quentin is placed on a pedestal and expected to carry on…

However, the theme most prevalent in The Sound and the Fury, is the communication, or its lack within the Compson family. All the uncertainties that surface in the lives of the family members are instigated through the lack of communication. Stephan Ross touches on this with his idea that Mr. Compson is constantly analyzing Quentin, "erecting a wall of words impossible to break through" (111). In one of the great ironies of the novel, Mr. Compson bombards his children with meaningless words…

Mrs. Compson, as useless as she is, is greedy for power and reputation. Through her constant abuse of Dilsey and complaints about Miss Quentin’s misdeeds, the frail and ailing Mrs. Compson tries to behold as much power as possible despite leaving Jason Compson, a physically abusive, swindling, asshole formally in charge of the family. “ Give me the keys, you old fool! Jason cried suddenly. From her pocket he tugged a huge bunch of rusted keys on an iron ring like a medieval jailer’s and ran…

The picturesque landscape of the Old South has deeply engrained itself into the minds of many. Decades preceding the Civil War was a time of mansions, plantations and the idealistic Southern gentleman, his exquisite wife, their children and their slaves. Each plantation had a stoic white mansion with Roman pillars, surrounded by fields of cotton and tobacco filled with field hands harmonizing in song. The iconic image that the Old South lives by, the family enjoying church on Sunday mornings,…

The Lord is our Shepherd It is believed that King David ,also known as the shepherd king, wrote psalms 23 to express his feelings after his son Absalom tried to become king. David ran away after his son 's attempt to become king and found refuge with a shepherd called Barzillai and began to reflect on God’s loving kindness and guidance. In Psalms 23 David describes himself and the people of God as sheep. As well connects to both the new testament and the old making it one of the most simplistic…

The picture perfect family does not exist; behind closed doors shocking and unpredictable actions are taken. To keep a good standing in public is essential for a good reputation. Families will stick together in the end, but it does not mean that the road to get there is a smooth one. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner highlights an aristocratic, southern family’s ties between family members and the tensions that pull families apart. The novel uses a narrative style that is separated and…

Scene: A family reunion at a Thanksgiving Dinner held, begrudgingly, by Adrienne Rich and her girlfriend, Charlotte Perkins Gilman at Adrienne Rich’s family home. Set in Maryland. Her brother has brought his one child, Huckleberry Finn. William Faulkner has brought his wife, Gertrude Stein, and their three children, Jason Compson II, Quentin Compson, Benjy compson and Caddy Compson. Act I Scene I William Faulkner: Children, please don’t play in the snow. Caddy, pull down your dress.…

Sylvia Plath had a troubled life. She tried to commit suicide once, but failed. She ended up marrying and having two kids, but the marriage ended in divorce. She later tried to commit suicide again, this time she succeeded. As seen in the poem Mirror, if we aren’t content with our reflection or focus too much on finding ourselves through the mirror, we will end up losing ourselves and never find happiness, just like Plath. We need to find ourselves without looking in the mirror, because if…