A Faulkner Novel Is:

I believe a “Faulkner Novel” is composed of a series of characterizations that are specific to his plot make up. There is first, the very present incestual behavior, whether between actual siblings or paternal and maternal characters. The dysfunctional southern family trying to uphold lost honor is another standing tradition in “Faulkner Novels.” This includes the parents who do not behave as paternal or maternal guidance and often overlook the problems it is their responsibility to resolve leaving it to the children, these people can also just be characters that are maternal and paternal influences and not actually related to the main characters. Some of the most common characters in “Faulkner Novels are the ones most wronged by the southern society that is usually obsessed in some way with time and coming to a reasonable understanding of their situation. Secondly, there is most often absent female centers in the novels. This is a woman central to the plotline in some way who appears briefly or not at all and is spoken of by other characters but her thoughts and words are rarely heard. She is usually very important to the character obsessed with time, understanding and the code of the southern gentleman. There is sometimes a character that is in some way a fighter and their fight creates conflict with the other characters, they usually hold a value that they cannot let go of. These characters also, in some aspect of their personality or mannerisms, exemplify the southern gentlemanly values. In these ways I believe that Faulkner achieves his individuality as a writer through the manner of characters that he creates. These characters are not modeled after the writings of any other author I know and most of the times these rash characters are not people other authors would dare to touch upon. This is why Faulkner’s writing depicted the south in a way no other author could in his time and perhaps up through our time.