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What are the main problems and characteristics of Faulkner's works?
Quick answer:
William Faulkner's works primarily explore the decay of the old South and its struggles post-Civil War, often set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County. His narratives frequently depict the decline of traditional Southern families like the Sartoris and Compsons, contrasted with the rise of opportunistic newcomers such as the Snopeses. Faulkner's writing is characterized by a deep compassion for African Americans and poor whites, and he was an advocate for civil rights in the late 1940s.
William Faulkner came from an old Southern family. He was born in Mississippi in 1897. He heard stories from his grandfather about the old South.
His novels and stories share a common element;he writes about the old South and how after the Civil War, many of the old time Southerners had a hard time adjusting to the changes that occurred after the South lost.
"The human drama in Faulkner's novels is then built on the model of the actual, historical drama extending over almost a century and a half Each story and each novel contributes to the construction of a whole, which is the imaginary Yoknapatawpha County and its inhabitants."
"Their theme is the decay of the old South, as represented by the Sartoris and Compson families, and the emergence of ruthless and brash newcomers, the Snopeses."
"His writing also reveals understanding of and compassion for African Americans and poor whites. In the late 1940’s, he began to speak out in favor of civil rights for African Americans, challenging traditional assumptions of the South."
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