"Motionless as an Idol": The Roles of Art, Modernism, and Religion in William Faulkner's Construction of Gender
William Faulkner's body of work addresses many specific issues and conditions specific to the South, but this project focuses on the place of Southern women in society and Faulkner's exploration of their subjugation through the language and images of art. I will analyze three of his texts: "A Rose for Emily," As I Lay Dying, and The Sound and the Fury with a particular focus on the main female characters and the art metaphors they are presented in association with and. often, as encapsulated within. I chose these three texts because they are best representative of my argument. In the texts, Faulkner uses art metaphors and technical artistic methods to create women through whom he criticizes his society. Art metaphors are an effective way to show the societal construction of the female identity and role while revealing just how destructive and life-restricting those constructions are. Miss Emily is portrayed using very detailed metaphors, articulating the depths of her society's expectations and injustice. Addie Bundren is depicted through a few art metaphors, with the extended metaphor being that of her coffin, disclosing her subj edification. Caddy Compson is also related to art metaphors that render her in the same manner as the two other women, struggling against the male domination that threatens her existence and relegates her identities to what is deemed acceptable. Faulkner exposes his own bias towards the women and their independence through his creation of them; he does not make caricatures of them or restrict them in the ways their societies do. Instead, he illustrates the richness of their personalities in hopes to show what has been lost as a result of their subjugation. I argue that Faulkner's purpose extends beyond forging sympathy for the women; his purpose seeks to prevent future losses like those he depicts and offers corrective guidance for his Southern community. I seek to establish my argument as an original contribution to a continuing scholarly conversation about Faulkner and his place within his society and the significance of his literary contributions. Many scholars have examined both Faulkner's use of gender and his interest in art, but my approach combines the two in a way that has not previously been explored in Faulkner scholarship. I also analyze the effects of Modernism and Southern community, with its emphasis on religion, in Faulkner's work, seeking to understand and communicate a broader picture of his relevance and significance.
William Faulkner, A Rose for Emily, As I Lay Dying, The Sound And The Fury, Comparative Literature, English Language and Literature, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Literature in English, North America
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