William Faulkner’s novel "Absalom, Absalom!" was first published in 1936 and deals with the problems of the family Sutpen before, during and after the American Civil War. Thus, slavery plays an important role in this novel because the Sutpens own a huge plantation in Virginia and hence have slaves to do the work. The attitude towards slavery within the novel is very bad. The people do not like slaves or coloured people in general and this becomes obvious through several narrators.
The Civil War and especially slavery is an important theme in American history. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and around 1.1 million people lost their lives in it. The war took place because of the prohibition of slavery in the north of America although it was still allowed in the south where slaves were used for the work on plantations or in the household.
Therefore, the prohibition of slavery was a huge contentious issue. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Union army and thus from the North and Jefferson Davis was the president from the Confederate army from the South. South Carolina was the first state that announced its separation from the United States of America and six other southern states joined them. The bloodiest battle was in Gattysburg in July 1863 where around 51 000 soldiers were killed. This battle was at the same time the turning point in the Civil War because the Union won. After the war it was decided that everyone has a right to vote not depending on colour, religion or any other circumstances what was then the reason why the Ku-Klux-Klan was formed on Christmas Eve 1865.
Table of Contents
1. The Civil War and slavery in American history
2. Rosa Coldfield's perception of slaves
3. Thomas Sutpen’s treatment of slaves
4. Clytie and the experience of mixed race
5. Slaves as property and economic units
6. Charles Bon and interracial marriage
7. The struggle of mixed-race individuals
8. Conclusion on the depiction of slavery
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the depiction of slavery and racial prejudice in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!". The central research question explores how the author uses linguistic choices, dehumanizing comparisons, and character perspectives to portray the systemic brutality and the deep-seated societal racism inherent in the American South during the Civil War era.
- The dehumanization of slaves through animalistic metaphors.
- The perception of human beings as mere economic property.
- The social conflict surrounding interracial relationships and mixed-race identity.
- The role of historical American consciousness in justifying slavery.
Excerpt from the Book
The Civil War and especially slavery is an important theme in American history.
The Civil War was from 1861 to 1865 and around 1, 1 million people lost their lives in it. The war took place because of the prohibition of slavery in the north of America although it was still allowed in the south where slaves were needed for the work on plantations or in the household. Therefore, the prohibition of slavery was a huge contentious issue. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Union army (who was elected in 1860) and thus from the North and Jefferson Davis was the president from the Confederate army and thus from the South. South Carolina was the first state that announced its separation from the United States of America and six other southern states joined them. The bloodiest battle was in Gattysburg in July 1863 where around 51 000 soldiers were killed. This battle was at the same time the turning point in the Civil War because the Union won. After the war it was decided that everyone has a right to vote not depending on colour, religion or any other circumstances what was then the reason why the Ku-Klux-Klan was formed on Christmas Eve 1865.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Civil War and slavery in American history: Provides a historical overview of the American Civil War, its causes related to slavery, and the eventual formation of the Ku-Klux-Klan.
2. Rosa Coldfield's perception of slaves: Analyzes how the narrator Rosa Coldfield uses derogatory language and dehumanizing animal metaphors to describe slaves and express her fear of them.
3. Thomas Sutpen’s treatment of slaves: Examines Sutpen's role as a plantation owner who forces his slaves into brutal, unregulated fights, reflecting his view of them as disposable property.
4. Clytie and the experience of mixed race: Discusses the discrimination Clytie faces due to her mixed blood, highlighting how racial prejudice ignores family ties and personal identity.
5. Slaves as property and economic units: Explores the commodification of slaves in the novel, where they are equated with livestock and managed as financial assets.
6. Charles Bon and interracial marriage: Details the societal and legal taboos surrounding interracial marriage in the South and how these prohibitions influence violent conflicts within families.
7. The struggle of mixed-race individuals: Addresses the psychological impact on children of mixed heritage who find themselves rejected by both white and black communities.
8. Conclusion on the depiction of slavery: Summarizes how the novel uses realistic and harsh characterizations to critique the superficiality and moral corruption of Southern society.
Keywords
Absalom Absalom, William Faulkner, slavery, American Civil War, racism, dehumanization, plantation life, Thomas Sutpen, Rosa Coldfield, mixed-race, interracial marriage, property, social hierarchy, Southern literature, racial prejudice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the depiction of slavery and the systemic racism present in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!", specifically analyzing how characters view and treat enslaved people.
What are the central thematic fields addressed in the analysis?
Key themes include the dehumanization of black individuals through language, the conceptualization of humans as economic property, and the severe social consequences of mixed-race heritage.
What is the primary research goal of the document?
The goal is to demonstrate how Faulkner illustrates the "peculiar institution" of slavery through the eyes of his characters and how this reflection mirrors historical American societal attitudes.
Which scientific or analytical methods are utilized?
The work employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing textual evidence from the novel combined with secondary academic sources to support arguments regarding racial dynamics.
What aspects of the novel are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the perspectives of key characters like Rosa Coldfield and Charles Bon, the treatment of slaves as livestock, and the internal struggles of mixed-race characters like Clytie.
Which keywords define this work?
Keywords include slavery, racism, dehumanization, property, and interracial identity.
How does Rosa Coldfield justify her negative view of slaves?
She uses animalistic comparisons, suggesting that slaves are "wild beasts" or less developed than white people, which allows her to distance herself from them psychologically.
Why is the status of Clytie particularly representative of the novel's themes?
Clytie's character represents the tragedy of mixed heritage in a strictly segregated society, as she is rejected by her own family members despite her partial white ancestry.
What does the text conclude about the "peculiar institution" of slavery?
It concludes that the slave system was fundamentally built upon the equivalence of humans to animals and objects, a logic that served to justify the violence and degradation inherent in the system.
- Quote paper
- Laura Commer (Author), 2015, The depiction of slavery in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/338479
