Light In August - Mysogyny
Long have women in classic literature been portrayed as weak and submissive male playthings who lead futile and meaningless lives. William Faulkner's Light In August, the story of an abandoned child plagued by sexuality and women, overflows with female characters who aid the reader in delving into both this traditional view of women, and Faulkner's own personal views. Laden with these women, who play the role of stepmothers, grandmothers, and lovers; each woman plays an important contributory roll by feeding the flame of Faulkner's view. Far from straying from the stereotypical outlook on women, Faulkner not only flaunts but also embraces this misogynistic view. Faulkner characterizes women as weak and simple who must please men's sexual desires. One of the first female characters met in the story, Miss Atkins, a dietitian at the orphanage in which Joe Christmas lives, adheres to the stereotype. Miss Atkins, against her wishes, submits to the desires of a male co-worker who wishes to have sex with her. The event takes place amidst silent cries of "No, Charley! Charley Please! Please Charley!" (121). Portrayed as a whore, Miss Atkins brings forth the developing theme of misogyny in the novel. This event also ac
ts as the catalyst for Christmas' lifelong discomfort and anger towards women. Faulkner forces him to experience this disturbing event, while hidden behind a curtain, at the tender age of 5. Two other influential women-Lena Grove, a girl who has run away from home to look for the father of her child, and Millie, the mother of Joe Christmas, also exemplify Faulkner's view that women, being weak and naive creatures, allow themselves to be used and abused to satisfy men's sexual nature and desires. Both women, scandalously impregnated out-of-wedlock, succumb to the men they love who completely disrespect them. Doc Hines, Millie's father, uses words, which in reality belong to Faulkner, summing up his view of these women: "Bitchery and abomination!" (361). Lena, whose bastard child was abandoned by its father before being born, and Millie, who died in labor while giving birth to a hated bastard child, symbolize the role of the stereotypical brainless woman in the life of men-that of a sexual plaything, who, after the fun, hope to be loved and taken care of only to realize that they have been abandoned. These three women represent only a slice of the misogynistic view that Faulkner puts forth in this novel. Faulkner adds another aspect to his view of the stereotypical woman by proving the emptiness of women's life through various female characters. To begin, Mrs. Hines, the mother of Millie, becomes insane because of her lost grandson. In other words, she has to live for a man. Her life and head, with constant thoughts of her lost grandson-after losing him, become empty and meaningless. Also, the wife of Reverend Gail Highto
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1101
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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