Americans’ humanity.

The novel reflects on the damaging consequences of a society built on racism and underscores Faulkner's condemnation of the Southern moral code. Sutpen’s downfall is emblematic of the flaws in the concept of the "Southern gentleman," a figure who sacrifices moral and familial obligations for the sake of societal image and ambition. Thus, Faulkner's work remains a poignant critique of the South’s legacy, challenging readers to confront the moral inconsistencies of an era striving for redemption yet mired in its historical transgressions.

William Faulkner’s fictional creation of Yoknapatawpha County in northwestern Mississippi serves as an intricate tapestry of Southern life, interweaving the history, culture, and social complexities of the American South. Through the detailed portrayal of this mythical setting, Faulkner delves deep into the themes of identity, legacy, and the enduring impact of history. From grand, decaying plantation homes to the oppressive Southern heat, the setting in Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! is a vibrant character in its own right, reflecting the broader cultural tensions of the era.

The Heart of Yoknapatawpha

Yoknapatawpha County, or as Faulkner termed it, his “little postage stamp of native soil,” is a fictional landscape that mirrors the real Lafayette County in Mississippi. By the time Absalom, Absalom! was penned, Faulkner had already established this setting in five previous novels, making it a cornerstone of his literary universe. The Northern boundary marked by the Tallahatchie River and the Southern by the Yoknapatawpha River, the land spans 2,400 square miles and houses a population that reflects the racial dynamics of the time—6,298 white and 9,313 black residents.

Jefferson: A Microcosm of Southern Society

At the center of this fictional county lies Jefferson, a town modeled closely after Faulkner's own hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, and it acts as a microcosm of the South during the 19th century. The town's social fabric is woven with racial prejudice and class consciousness, and it is here that one of the novel’s central figures, Thomas Sutpen, attempts to carve out a respectable life among the local aristocracy. However, his endeavors only highlight the societal flaws he mirrors, as he is perpetually seen as an outsider despite his ambitious pursuits.

Sutpen's Hundred: Symbolism in Decay

Central to the narrative is Sutpen's Hundred, the grand plantation established by Thomas Sutpen on prime land in Yoknapatawpha County. This vast estate, initially a symbol of Sutpen’s aspirations and hard-won status, becomes a poignant symbol of his ultimate failure and the crumbling ideals of the Old South. Descriptions of the mansion in its decayed state—with sagging porticoes and scaling walls—mirror the decline not only of Sutpen’s dreams but also of the antebellum Southern aristocracy. "Sagging blinds and blank-shuttered windows" come to represent the loss and desolation that permeate the story.

Mapping a Southern Myth

Faulkner's inclusion of a map in Absalom, Absalom! enriches the reader's experience, offering a tangible connection to Yoknapatawpha's geography and its broader narrative. This cartographic detail extends beyond mere setting, linking various stories within the Yoknapatawpha saga and underscoring the interconnectedness of the people and the land. The map is not just a geographical guide but a symbol of shared history, illustrating the complex tapestry of Southern identity and cultural legacy.

Symbolism and Realism

The setting of Faulkner’s novel goes beyond mere realism, capturing symbolic meanings that enhance the narrative. The Southern climate, characterized by oppressive heat and humidity, serves as a metaphor for the stifling social structures and historical burdens faced by the characters. The decaying grandeur of plantation homes reflects the decline of Southern aristocracy, paralleling the internal decay of the families that once inhabited them. In this way, the environment actively shapes the destinies of its inhabitants, contributing to the overarching themes of decay and renewal.

The Mythical South

Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County epitomizes the mythical South—a place where history's ghosts linger and the past and present are perpetually entwined. This fictional county allows Faulkner to delve into the complexities of Southern identity, querying themes of honor, pride, and the Civil War's enduring legacy. Here, the setting transcends its role as a mere backdrop, becoming a character that influences events and reflects broader cultural tensions.

The Broader Landscape of Sutpen's Story

While much of Sutpen’s story unfolds within the confines of Mississippi, it extends beyond to places like Haiti, where his first attempt to achieve his "design" fails. It is in Haiti, amidst a slave insurrection, that Sutpen marries the landowner’s daughter, only to renounce her upon discovering her mixed heritage. This early failure is pivotal, propelling Sutpen into the American South with renewed determination. Additionally, Faulkner juxtaposes Sutpen's early years in the untamed mountains of West Virginia and later experiences in Virginia's aristocratic tidewater region, highlighting the formative events that shape his ambitions.

Quentin Compson and Harvard

Far from Mississippi, the narrative reaches into the hallowed halls of Harvard University, where Quentin Compson, a native of Jefferson, grapples with the stories of his homeland. Alongside his roommate Shreve McCannon, Quentin pieces together Sutpen’s tale, confronting his own conflicted feelings towards the South. Quentin’s declaration, "I dont. I dont! I dont hate it! I dont hate it!" captures the ambivalence and emotional turmoil that the region evokes, further emphasizing the enduring impact of Yoknapatawpha's legacy.

In Faulkner’s hands, the setting of Yoknapatawpha County becomes a powerful instrument for exploring the human condition, its vividness ensuring a timeless exploration of the American South's complexities. Through meticulously crafted landscapes and evocative symbolism, Faulkner invites readers to immerse themselves in the rich narrative tapestry he weaves, one that transcends its fictional origins and offers profound insights into history, identity, and the inevitability of change.

William Faulkner's novel Absalom, Absalom! is renowned for its complexity, weaving a narrative tapestry from fragmented stories and unreliable perspectives. Faulkner employs a unique narrative structure involving multiple viewpoints, extended metaphors, and references to classical and biblical motifs. Through these techniques, the novel explores themes of time, memory, and the Southern experience, positioning itself both as a piece of historical fiction and a reflection on the art of storytelling itself.

Complex Narrative Structure

The narrative of Absalom, Absalom! challenges traditional storytelling by employing a circular rather than linear approach. Faulkner refrains from a straightforward chronological order, instead presenting events piecemeal across different timelines. This structure is further complicated by the presence of four narrators, each retelling the same story with their own biases and partial knowledge. "Absalom, Absalom!" is considered to be one of Faulkner’s most difficult novels because of its complex narrative structure. Readers are tasked with distinguishing fact from opinion and piecing together the fragmented story themselves, a process that requires grappling with each narrator's emotions, motivations, and reliability.

Faulkner's use of multiple narrators and his frequent shifts in perspective serve to deepen character development but also disrupt the chronological flow of the Sutpen saga. This design forces the reader to engage actively with the text, deciphering who is speaking at any given time and determining the narrator's reliability. The narrative often shifts fluidly between characters, sometimes without clear demarcation, which requires readers to be particularly attentive, especially in passages like chapter five, where narration alternates rapidly between Quentin and Shreve. As a result, the story becomes akin to an oral tradition, steeped in the lore of Jefferson and beyond.

Time and Legend

Time plays a crucial role in establishing the novel's mythic quality. Faulkner believed in creating a vivid portrayal of the past, grounding the Sutpen story as a legend within the community of Yoknapatawpha County. By revealing the essential facts in the first chapter through an omniscient narrator, Faulkner sets the stage for a tale that is both historical and legendary. This opening provides the framework for the subsequent narrators to embellish and reinterpret the story, solidifying its status as a communal legend.

Despite the narrators' lack of complete information and the reliance on hearsay, the Sutpen story becomes ingrained in the local consciousness, evolving over time as a shared history. This communal storytelling parallels the rise and fall of the Southern aristocracy, with Thomas Sutpen's life mirroring the societal collapse of the Antebellum South. Faulkner juxtaposes the personal downfall of Sutpen with the broader historical context, creating a complex metaphor for the South's moral and social decline.

Literary Devices and Themes

Faulkner employs a rich array of literary devices to enhance the novel's thematic depth. Irony is a prominent tool, with characters like Rosa unknowingly referencing familial ties and historical contexts that the reader only fully appreciates later. The novel's title itself, Absalom, Absalom!, alludes to the biblical story of David and Absalom, reinforcing themes of familial strife and moral disintegration.

His very body was an empty hall echoing with sonorous defeated names; he was not a being, an entity, he was a commonwealth. He was a barracks filled with stubborn back-looking ghosts still recovering.

This powerful metaphor illustrates Quentin's connection to the past, emphasizing the weight of history and legacy. Faulkner's frequent use of similes and metaphors, along with biblical and classical allusions, constructs a mythic framework for the story. Characters are often likened to figures from mythology, such as Ellen to Niobe and Rosa to Cassandra, underlining the epic scale and tragic dimensions of their lives.

Regionalism and the Southern Experience

Though its themes are universal, Absalom, Absalom! is deeply rooted in the South. Except for Quentin and Shreve's discussions at Harvard, the entire narrative unfolds within the confines of Jefferson, Mississippi. Faulkner meticulously depicts the manners, habits, and societal structures unique to the South, capturing the essence of a region grappling with its historical legacy.

The novel's regional focus underscores the distinctiveness of its characters and themes, as it could not be easily transposed to another setting. Faulkner's portrayal of the consequences of slavery and the moral complexities of the South highlight the inextricable link between personal histories and broader societal narratives. Through Sutpen's ambitions and ultimate downfall, Faulkner critiques the relentless pursuit of power and control that characterized the Confederacy, drawing parallels between personal and historical trajectories.

The Metaphor of Storytelling

Beyond its historical implications, Absalom, Absalom! serves as a metaphor for the process of writing fiction. Faulkner's narrative technique reflects the challenges of reconstructing history from fragmented and often unreliable sources. The novel invites readers to question the nature of truth and the possibility of capturing the past authentically. By engaging with the unreliable narrators, readers are compelled to become active participants in the storytelling process, interpreting and assembling the narrative mosaic.

Through this intricate narrative dance, Faulkner underscores the inherent subjectivity of storytelling and the complexities involved in interpreting history. In doing so, he challenges both his characters and readers to extract meaning from incomplete and biased accounts, ultimately highlighting the elusive nature of truth and the power of storytelling to shape collective memory.

1800s: Heroes are often derived from folklore and tales of individuals (usually men) exhibiting immense courage and wisdom.

1900s: Heroes frequently include prominent Civil War figures like Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Soldiers returning home after the war often become local heroes.

Today: Heroes are more commonly celebrities than historical figures, with hero status largely based on success rather than bravery. Professional athletes, business moguls, and entertainers are frequently celebrated as heroes. Acts of courage can briefly elevate someone to hero status, usually due to media attention. The media's influence on heroism is significant; few who remain out of the spotlight are idolized as heroes.

1800s: Social status is mainly determined by ancestry. In early America, social status often influences marriage, career choices, and political affiliations.

1900s: Social status is shaped by both ancestry and wealth. In the South, many "respectable" families face economic hardships, and the ability to amass wealth brings greater social influence.

Today: Social status is largely defined by wealth. While some privileged "dynasties" exist in major cities, anyone who acquires sufficient wealth can rise in society. However, social status is less of a determining factor in people's lives than it was previously.

1800s: Slavery forms the backbone of the Southern economy, providing labor for everything from agriculture to domestic work.

1900s: The 1863 Emancipation Proclamation abolishes slavery. Although slaves gain their freedom, they continue to struggle to support themselves and their families in a society that fears and despises them. Racism remains harsh and pervasive.

Today: African Americans continue to confront the pain, injustice, and indignity rooted in their history in America. Despite the significant progress made by the civil rights movement of the 1960s in securing rights and liberties for minorities, racism still exists as a divisive force, serving as a stark reminder of the past.

• Absalom, Absalom! audio adaptation by Everett/Edwards, released in 1977.
• Absalom, Absalom! audio adaptation by Books on Tape, released in 1993.

• Backman, Melvin. Faulkner, The Major Years: A Critical Study. Indiana University Press, 1966. Backman reviews Faulkner’s major writing, both novels and short stories, and provides a critical overview of the author’s development and contribution to American letters.
• Blotner, Joseph. Faulkner: A Biography. 2 vols. New York: Random House, 1974. In addition to presenting detailed coverage of Faulkner's career, this biography discusses the production of Absalom, Absalom! and its importance to the body of American literature.
• Brooks, Cleanth. William Faulkner: The Yoknapatawpha Country. Yale University Press, 1963.
• Brooks, Cleanth. William Faulkner: Toward Yoknapatawpha and Beyond. Yale University Press, 1978. Respected literary critic Cleanth Brooks focuses on Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha stories, exploring why they are important to Faulkner’s writing as a whole and what importance they have in the American literary tradition. Brooks evaluates early influences and innovations made by Faulkner over the course of his writing career.
• Caesar, Judith. “Patriarchy, Imperialism, and Knowledge,” in North Dakota Quarterly, Vol. 62, No. 4, Fall 1994–1995, pp. 164–74.
• Cowley, Malcolm, ed. The Portable Faulkner. Viking, 1946. When Cowley, a literary historian and poet, collected Faulkner’s writing in this volume, he renewed interest in Faulkner at a time when Faulkner’s work was being neglected and narrowly categorized as regional writing. Critics often note that many of Faulkner’s novels had gone out of print prior to the publication of Cowley’s collection.
• Edenfield, Olivia Carr. “‘Endure and Then Endure’: Rosa Coldfield’s Search for a Role in William Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom!,” in Southern Literary Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1, Fall 1999, pp. 59–70. Edenfield examines Rosa Coldfield’s quest for a feminine role in Faulkner’s novel.
• Faulkner, William. Collected Stories. Random House, 1950. This volume collects Faulkner’s short stories. It has been reprinted over the years for its value to students of Faulkner.
• Faulkner, William. A Fable. Random House, 1954. This is the novel for which Faulkner was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1955.
• Faulkner, William. The Reivers. Random House, 1962. This is the novel for which Faulkner won the 1963 Pulitzer Prize.
• Faulkner, William. William Faulkner’s Speech of Acceptance Upon the Award of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Delivered in Stockholm, 10th December 1950. Chatto and Windus, 1951. This booklet contains Faulkner’s memorable and moving acceptance speech upon winning the Nobel Prize for literature.
• Gray, Richard. The Life of William Faulkner: A Critical Biography. Oxford: Blackwell, 1994. Written by a noted Faulkner scholar, this work contains a detailed discussion of Faulkner's use of setting, his creation of Yoknapatawpha County, and his treatment of historical time.
• Meriwether, James B., and Michael Millgate, eds. Lion in the Garden: Interviews with William Faulkner, 1926–1962. Random House, 1968. This collection of interviews contains the reclusive author’s views on literature and a variety of other subjects.
• Millgate, Michael. The Achievement of William Faulkner. Constable, 1966.
• Minter, David. American Writers. Retrospective Supplement, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1998.
• Minter, David. William Faulkner: His Life and Work. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980. Minter gives critical insight into Absalom, Absalom! by discussing how the narrators' lives relate to their perceptions of the Sutpen story and how relationships between different races and sexes characterize the novel's themes.
• “Manners and Etiquette,” in Encyclopedia of American Social History. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1993.
• Parker, Robert D. Absalom, Absalom!: The Questioning of Fictions. Hall, G. K. & Company, 1991. This critical study includes a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the novel which helps students understand the complexities of the story. The book also discusses in detail the roles of each of the narrators, the twists in the plot, the role of history in Absalom, Absalom!, and the novel's literary importance. It includes an outline of the novel's narrative structure and a chronology of Faulkner's life.