Images of Blood in Faulkners Light in August Essay

Images of Blood in Faulkners Light in August Blood is considered by many to be one of the most important ties between human beings; it is therefore frequently used as an image that defines a character or a relationship between characters in a novel. For example, a prince might be defined by his royal blood, or a weak man described as having thin blood. Close friends may be blood brothers, or families may have a blood feud. In William Faulkners Light in August, the image of blood permeates the themes of sexuality, race, and religion. Blood is common to all of these themes: it is evident in reproductive cycles and births, it is a medium for the genetic passage of†¦show more content†¦During the experience, he ate most of the tube of toothpaste, and was caught by the would-be lovers when he vomited (Faulkner 122). Aside from associating the sex act with disgust and vomit, he developed the impression that the male is meant to incite fear in his female partner, and this idea influences his sexual encounters over the years. When Christmas first learns about menstruation from the boys he associates with as a young teen, he is disgusted by the thought of the physical ceremony, which is not a mental state, but physical, actual, to be discerned by the sense of smell and even of sight (Faulkner 185). Had the boy relating this information to Christmas not given him a graphic, tangible idea of the process of menstruation, Christmas would not have listened (Faulkner 185). However, once convinced of the possibility that the boys claim is true, Christmas performs his own ceremony, killing a sheep to immerse himself in the smell, sight, and feel of its blood: He found the flock in a hidden valley and stalked and killed one with the gun. Then he knelt, his hands in the yet warm blood of the dying beast, trembling, dry-mouthed, backglaring. Then he got over it, recovered. He did not forget what the boy had told him. He just accepted it. (Faulkner 185-186) The blood of the sheep providesShow MoreRelated Religious Symbols and Symbolism in Faulkners Light in August1555 Words   |  7 PagesReligious Symbolism in Light in August  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Faulkner’s, Light in August has many references to Christianity. He employs a great deal of religious symbolism in all of his characters. These parallels seem very intentional, even though, Faulkner himself says he did not do it purposely. The Christ story is one of the most popular stories invented and it seems right that at some point someone is going to write similar to it. William Faulkner says he did not put the Christian parallels inRead More Comparing Faulkners Light in August and James Portrait of a Lady2862 Words   |  12 PagesComparing William Faulkners Light in August  and Henry James Portrait of a Lady Light in August   and Portrait of a Lady are two novels which embodies within them, life affirming morals. Authors like William Faulkner and Henry James possess the art of making the reader learn by experiencing for themselves.   William Faulkner uses the technique of introspection as well as by showing how characters and their actions can affect one another. Henry James also shows that a character’s actions and decisionsRead MoreGenius Photography Notes: Right Place, Right Time3837 Words   |  16 Pagesunder my helmet. I held my cameras high over my head...and told myself, â€Å"I am just going to dry my hands on that boat.† Capa omaha beach1  Capa reached the landing craft, but as he hauled himself on board, there was an explosion that covered him in blood and feathers. The feathers had come from the sailors’ blown apart kapok jackets. Making his way across the bloody deck, he reached the engine room and dried his hands by the engine’s warmth.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"...put fresh film in both cameras. I got up on deck againRead MoreViolence on Television Does Not Impact Behavior Essay3474 Words   |  14 Pagesthe brutal rape and murder of a child by their parent? Perhaps the news contributes more than just an insightful knowledge of events. Perhaps Columbine copycats and school bomb threats may never have arisen if the entire world hadnt witnessed the blood-soaked terrors via cable television. An early study performed by Liebert and Baron in 1972 concedes that the willingness of a child to harm another child is increased by the intake of violence-charged television programming. Cartoon superhero con tributors