The Light in August: Religion in Faulkner's Work

Nobel laureate William Faulkner was one of the most respected American writers of the 20^th century and is known for his incredibly complex body of work. The author of The Sound and the Fury often showcased the culture decay of Southern culture and did not shy away from subjects such as racism, conflict and relationships. A Light in August is one such work. Published in 1932, this novel tell three stories about desperate souls and in it, Faulkner weaves his common themes of race and moral decay with the element of religion.

The Light in August focuses on three main characters, Lena Grove, Joe Christmas and Reverend Gail Hightower. Lena Grove, unmarried and pregnant, is on a search for her unborn baby's father, Lucas Brown. Joe Christmas, an adult orphan, is seeking his place in the worl. Reverend Hightower is simply trying to maintain his life after the scandalous suicide of his wife.

Lena's character is simple and endearing. She, almost symbolic of the Virgin Mary, must take her journey to the City that holds promise for her and her baby. She does not find the father of her child, Lucas, but a substitute Byron who offers to care for her and her child. Byron is like the New Testament Joseph. He is thoughtful and morally responsible. He will stand as a good father and sympathetic friend.

For Joe Christmas, the plot is more complicated. His name is not derived from his family, but from the day he was arrived at an orphanage. Joe, a man of mixed heritage, resents the world of Blacks and whites, because he does not feel that he belongs to either. He enters a relationship with an abolitionist's daughter and struggles with it as the woman, Joanna Burden, becomes increasingly religious. She does not understand that Joe links his past abuse from religious parents with her newfound zeal. Joanna is eventually murdered and Joe is the prime suspect. Lucas, under his alias, is a co-conspirator who burns down the Burden home and later sets the authorities on Joe. Poor Joe is captured, but escapes. He eventually shot to death and his wounds are crucifix like.

Reverend Gail Hightower, as his name should suggest, is self-righteous despite the scandal of his wife's adultery. He is hated by the townsfolk. He is marred by his family history and his questionable adherence to his faith. He is a player in Joe Christmas' death when Bryon seeks his help in hiding Joe.

Faulkner's novel mirrors the words of the Book of St. John in the New Testament. His 26 chapters of Light of August match the 26 chapters of the Book of St. John. While Faulkner has about five main characters, his entire book has 66, which is the same as the number of books in the Bible.

William Faulkner's Light of August, like The Sound and the Fury, is highly acclaimed. The lives and issues of its three main characters play on a backdrop of religious fanaticism. Religion is a key theme in many works, especially Light of August. It seems as if it is Faulkner's hope, as with his other works, to offer thoughtful insight on his views on the life in the South.