As a writer, Faulkner had big goals. He wanted to make money. A lot of money, enough to support a lavish lifestyle for him and his family. He also had a desire to be published. I can totally relate to that. In order to accomplish his goals, he had to write with a target audience in mind. His writings employ graphic details, exaggerated situations that people might be able to relate to or symphasize with. He used a newer technique of stream of consciousness writing. Faulkner also had strong feelings and beliefs that he wanted to convey. Many of his feelings were reflected in his current society.
In my opinion, I liked his writing style. Sometimes his stories ran on a bit, for example chapter Shreve from Absalom, Absalom! I do wish his topics would have been a bit more upbeat. I have gained an enlightenment on how to make characters or ideas die off and to make the reader wonder about the future.
Good comments, Esther; don't forget that--as much as he may have been writing like a madman to make as much money as he possibly could--he was *not* an especially financially successful author. Most of his better novels didn't make it past a first run until after his Nobel prize in the 1950s. It's not until later (sadly), that the establishment begins to appreciate such things as stream of consciousness, at least as Faulkner has put them together.
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