This alternative relies on a lack of roots, and especially a dismissal of the value of the past and personal history.Īlthough the reader knows that Christmas murdered Joanna, his capture and death are disconcerting. Although Hightower finds no truth in his religious education, he sees Lena Grove as a physical representation of a good future for the Earth, as she lives according to its rules and in balance with its needs. Lena Grove's natural spirituality seems to be the only viable alternative to the corrupt, racist, and dangerous organized religion presented in the novel. Does Faulkner offer a viable alternative?

All of these factors doom Christmas to tragedy, not merely his racial makeup.Īt many points in the novel organized religion comes under harsh scrutiny. Doc Hines plants self-doubt and self-hatred into his child's mind, McEachern beats any possibility of happiness out of him, and Bobbie Allen ties her rejection of his love to his race. In creating a character like Christmas, is Faulkner participating in the trope of biracial characters being necessarily troubled, and doomed to tragedy?Ĭhristmas is not an example of a biracial character doomed to tragedy simply because of his blood makeup, because while his end is certainly tragic, the path that leads him there is far too complex to have been dictated entirely by his blood.

Gavin Stevens postulates that in the end, Christmas's white and black bloods are at war with each other. Rather, he shows that given significant determination, characters can drive their own destiny, be it good or evil. It therefore seems unlikely that Faulkner is supporting the idea of divine intervention. The characters that Faulkner shows acting under a kind of supernatural guidance frequently commit deviant or even evil deeds. Is Faulkner trying to show evidence of divine intervention? Or is he mocking the idea? Throughout the novel, certain characters seem to act under the influence of supreme guidance.

Light in august by william faulkner