Absalom, Absalom: A Timeless Southern Tragedy

By William Faulkner

A Literary Masterpiece

William Faulkner's magnum opus, Absalom, Absalom!, is a complex and haunting tale set against the backdrop of the American South. This Southern Gothic novel, first published in 1936, weaves together multiple narratives to reveal a tragic legend rooted in race, ambition, and family conflict.

Plot Summary

The story centers around Thomas Sutpen, a white man born into poverty who rises to prominence through ruthless ambition and deceit. He builds a sprawling plantation in Yoknapatawpha County, but his attempts to establish a dynasty are doomed from the start.

Sutpen's marriage to Ellen Coldfield, a wealthy widow, is marked by tragedy. Their son, Henry "Sutpen" Sutpen III, becomes entangled in a bitter feud with his cousin Charles Bon, a mixed-race man. The conflict culminates in a bloody confrontation that forever alters the lives of all involved.

Theme and Structure

Absalom, Absalom! explores themes of racial prejudice, the destructive nature of ambition, and the complexities of history. The novel is structured as a story within a story, with multiple narrators recounting the events from their own perspectives.

Through its rich prose and carefully crafted characters, Absalom, Absalom! remains a timeless literary masterpiece that probes the depths of human nature and the enduring legacy of the past.