On Faulkner’s Representation Of Southern History

William Faulkner is one of the most extraordinary writers in our time. As arepresentative Southern author, his works employ various styles and explore differentthemes. In his long-spanned writing career, with his objective and rational observation,he examines the history, customs, people and social changes of American South. He isespecially interested in the deterioration of the old South after the Civil War.Absalom, Absalom! is the Faulkner’s ninth novel and one of his most admired. It isa story about a Southern family falling apart from1860to1910. It represents deeply allsorts of problems that existed in the Deep South. The narrative method of this novel isunique. There are four narrators, and each of them tries to interpret the history from hisor her point of view. This thesis aims to discuss Faulkner’s historical consciousness toreconstruct the Southern history in his novel through the lenses of New Historicism. It isproved that Absalom, Absalom!, has take part in the construction process of Southernhistory. To represent the history distinctly, Faulkner adopts modernistic devices to helpreaders get a fuller picture of Southern America. From the New Historical perspective, itcan be clearly seen that Faulkner attempts to represent the Southern history, and exposethe real reason that leads to the destruction of the old South.This thesis consists of five parts. The first chapter provides an introduction toFaulkner and Absalom, Absalom!, as well as the methodology of this thesis. Chapter twodiscusses what “history” means to each narrator and the negotiation through differentversions of “history”. Chapter three focuses on the Southern myths implied in the novel.It is argued here that Faulkner deconstructs the Southern myths to expose the real reasonfor Southern deterioration. Chapter four examines the modernistic devices used inAbsalom, Absalom!. The juxtaposition, the stream of consciousness, the symbolism andthe focalization help Faulkner represent the Southern history. Summing up the main points stated in the thesis, the conclusion reiterates Faulkner’s endeavor in representingthe southern history by analyzing the elements embodied in the historical background,characterization and writing strategies in Absalom, Absalom!.