Crime and Punishment in William Faulkner's "Light in August"

Bachelorarbeit , 2007 , 66 Seiten , Note: 5.0

Amerikanistik - Literatur

In the works of William Faulkner we can observe some rules by which a person is treated like an outcast for less detrimental deeds that are perceived as social crimes. It is not possible to write about human beings without taking into consideration the cultural context of their behavior. Culture changes historically (it is different nowadays from one that occurred about 80 years ago in the course of William Faulkner’s life).

Although there are many ways of writing about human beings (of perceiving them and interpreting their actions), there is no one particular method which would explain everything. To my mind, the best way of describing the problem presented in “Light in August” (1932), which would guarantee a compelling introduction of the matter, can be analysis of this novel in the context of psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud, Carl Gustav Jung, and sociology of Emile Durkheim.

I am aware that the above-mentioned methods have been extensively criticized over the years. However, the basis for this criticism has derived from the occurrence of some new phenomena in society, the phenomena which were not taken into consideration by the earlier psychologists and researchers of culture. Nevertheless, the cultural, psychological, and sociological mechanisms described by William Faulkner are contemporary to psychological and sociological theories quoted by me. What is more, without the sociological conditions of the time and coexistent psychological state of a human being (from the beginning of the 20th century) the psychology and sociology of that time would not have emerged.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER I The Conflict Between Collective and Individual Consciousness.
• CHAPTER II The Conflict between Consciousness and Subconsciousness

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper explores the complexities of crime and punishment in William Faulkner's Light in August, challenging traditional notions of morality and social order. It examines how individual actions, driven by both conscious and unconscious desires, are judged and punished by society. The paper aims to demonstrate the tension between societal expectations and individual freedom, and how this conflict shapes the lives of the characters.

• The conflict between individual and collective consciousness.
• The interplay of conscious and unconscious desires in shaping human behavior.
• The societal pressures and expectations that define crime and punishment.
• The limitations of social structures in addressing the complexities of human nature.
• The search for meaning and understanding in the face of moral ambiguity.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter I: The Conflict Between Collective and Individual Consciousness. This chapter delves into the concept of collective consciousness, as defined by Emile Durkheim, and its relationship to individual consciousness. It explores how Faulkner utilizes these concepts in Light in August to portray the tension between societal norms and individual desires. The chapter examines how characters are judged and punished for actions that challenge the prevailing social order.

Chapter II: The Conflict between Consciousness and Subconsciousness This chapter examines the psychological dimensions of crime and punishment, focusing on the interplay of conscious and unconscious desires. It draws upon the theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung to analyze the characters' motivations and actions. The chapter explores how unconscious impulses can lead to socially unacceptable behavior and how society reacts to such transgressions.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key themes and concepts explored in this work include crime, punishment, individual consciousness, collective consciousness, social norms, moral ambiguity, human nature, societal expectations, and the tension between freedom and order. The analysis draws upon the theoretical frameworks of Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Gustav Jung to illuminate the complexities of these themes.

• Hochschule: Uniwersitet Gdański (Philology)
• Veranstaltung: English Philology
• Note: 5.0
• Autor: Magdalena Siemieńczuk (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2007
• Seiten: 66
• Katalognummer: V310613
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668093966
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668093973
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: crime, punishment, william, faulkner, light, august