A light in August

A detailed Summary of A light in August

In the novel, A Light in August, William Faulkner introduces us to a wide range of characters of various backgrounds and personalities. Common to all of them is the fact that each is type cast into a certain role in the novel and in society. Lena is the poor, white trash southern girl who serves to weave the story together. Hightower is the fanatic preacher who is the dark, shameful secret of Jefferson. Joanna Burden is the middle-aged maiden from the north who is often accused of being a "nigger-lover". And Joe Christmas is the epitome of an outsider.

None of them are conventional, everyday people. They are all in some way disjointed from society; they do not fit in with the crowd. That is what makes them intriguing and that is why Faulkner documents their story. Percy Grimm is another such character and he plays a vital role in the novel. He is the one to finally terminate Joe Christmas, who has been suffering his entire life. Grimm is the enforcer, the one man who will uphold American pride at all costs. He also stands for everything in the world that has held Christmas back. He is the prototype of the ruthless enemy who is the source of all of Christmas' struggles. And Christmas can never escape him. H

Percy Grimm was born into the American south and grew up to be a symbol and backbone of the environment he was raised in. His only regret in life is being born too late. He feels that his sole purpose in life would be to fight in World War I and defend the country to which he is completely and utterly devoted. So when he grows to be a man, he joins the National Guard, which is the closest thing to an army he can find. But instead of protecting the country from foreign enemies, his job with the National Guard entails protecting the country from certain things within itself. Joe Christmas and the situation he has created is a direct threat to Percy Grimm and the establishment he represents.

chases him away. Percy Grimm is the human representation of this society. The climactic chase scene between Grimm and Christmas is symbolic of how Christmas has been running from people and places all his life. He was on the road all the time and was never able to settle down in one place for a significant time period. Society never accepted his heritage and personality and so he was always running away from it. But there comes a point where he can run no longer. "But there was too much running with him, stride for stride with him. Not pursuers: but himself: years, acts, deeds omitted and committed." The handcuffs which hinder his speed and mobility represent the burden he has carried throughout his life. This burden includes his ancestry, his childhood, the people he has encountered, acts he has committed, and the experiences he has had.

Eventually this all catches up to him as Grimm finally tracks him down and shoots him. It is almost as if fate has decreed that there could be no other end to the troubled life of Joe Christmas. The presence Grimm radiates intimidates everyone he encounters. Eventually Joe Christmas succumbs to him, and as he lay dying, he feels the evil, dark, and "black" part of himself withering away. "T

Some common words found in the essay are:
Joe Christmas, Percy Grimm, Grimm Christmas, Christmas Grimm, William Faulkner, Joanna Burden, National Guard, joe christmas, Faulkner Player, percy grimm, World War, American South, desperate attempt escape, national guard, role novel, attempt escape, throughout life, races american, desperate attempt, joanna burden, run hide,

Approximate Word count = 1301
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous