Watching The Road: A Character Analysis Of Lena Grove In Light In August

Light in August is one of the canonical masterpieces of William Faulkner, the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1949. It occupies a significant position in the Yoknapatawpha series and is "in many ways the best" among the novels following The Sound and the Fury.Lena Grove is one of the two principal characters in Light in August and plays a very important role in this novel. This thesis tries to analyze the characterization of Lena Grove from the perspectives of her structural, thematic and aesthetic functions based on a close reading of the text of the novel, and on a study of its symbols, ambiguities, tensions, points of view, organic form and other devices in light of the New Criticism.Close reading is the major strategy of the New Criticism, In most cases it is employed in examining a brief passage of text, especially poetry. However, it is by no means a method that is confined to a limited genre. It deals with prose fiction as well, focusing mainly on form and techniques. Light in August is narrated in a sandwich-like structure. The opening and closing chapters are devoted almost exclusively to the description of Lena Grove. She only appears occasionally with limited description in the other 19 chapters sandwiched by the first and last chapters. Thus, the limited length and condensed arrangement of structure enable this thesis to do a close reading only of the parts describing Lena Grove.This thesis consists of five parts. Chapter One "The Introduction" includes two sections. Section one presents a literary review of Faulkner studies and research on Light in August both in America and in China. Section two introduces the theoretical working principles employed in this thesis.Chapter Two "Structural Functions of Lena Grove" first offers an over-all view of the structure and strands of the novel. It then explores Lena Grove's function as a major strand from two aspects:how she serves as a frame and a clue, and how she creates correspondences and tensions.In Chapter Three "Thematic Functions of Lena Grove", Lena Grove is interpreted as the embodiments of light, pregnancy, the Virgin Mary, endless travel and the archetype of a country girl. Each of the five concepts is a symbol of multiple values. Every symbol is analyzed on several levels with reference to the novel.Chapter Four deals with the "Aesthetic Functions of Lena Grove". First, characterization of Lena Grove provides a vision outside the main plot for the readers to approach the story. Second, features of picture, music and poetry appear at the same time in the two chapters on Lena. Third, pastoral color, comic effect and techniques of the detective story coexist in the opening and closing chapters.After a review of the body of the thesis, Chapter Five "Conclusion" raises the questions about the lasting value of Faulkner's works and their universal concern for human nature and human fate.