Justice and retribution in the novels of William Faulkner

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dc.contributor.advisorPhillips, Anne R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDorough, C. Dwight
dc.contributor.committeeMemberNeibel, John B.
dc.creatorCarter, Bernice Brucker
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-28T20:56:49Z
dc.date.available2022-11-28T20:56:49Z
dc.date.issued1967
dc.description.abstractWilliam Faulkner's concern with morality has been reflected in all of his works. In exploring the moral conditions of man's life, he frequently considered justice, injustice, and retribution. The parallel plots of The Wild Palms occur in a world in which justice and morality are independent or separated. The world of the Snopes trilogy (The Hamlet, The Town, The Mansion) is heavily affected by retribution. Novels considered later in the thesis show justice or injustice occurring less randomly. Sanctuary is a story of injustice caused by the immorality of individuals as well as by the institutions of society. It is balanced by Requiem for a Nun, which stresses two aspects of morality: the continuity of society's aspirations and the responsibility of individuals. Intruder in the Dust is similar in theme to Requiem for a Nun; it indicates that society's morality is based on the morality of individuals. Therefore, justice occurs when men of good will seek it for their neighbors. Go Down, Moses extols a morality which harmonizes with nature, but the novel concludes that changing conditions require man to add humanitarianism to the sylvan virtues. The Unvanquished presents the renunciation of revenge as a desirable humanitarian goal. Absalom, Absalom! is a novel in which injustice begets injustice. As in The Unvanquished and in Go Down, Moses, children struggle to escape from the results of their fathers' sins.
dc.description.departmentEnglish, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.other13997228
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/12681
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.
dc.titleJustice and retribution in the novels of William Faulkner
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Arts and Sciences
thesis.degree.departmentEnglish, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineEnglish
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

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Legacy Theses and Dissertations (1940-2009)