Call For The Old Verities And Truths Of The Heart, The Universal Truths

William Faulkner (1897——1962) has been considered America's greatest novelist of the twentieth century .His writings deal with basic human nature and the basic patterns of human behavior, rank among the most enduring works of world literature. In his speech, Faulkner said: "He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid: and ,teaching himself that ,forget it forever ,leaving no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart , the universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed——love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice ." His writings are full of the ideas.The Sound and the Fury is the sad story of the Compsons . There is enough despair and nihilistic spirit but not much love and emotion in it . Absalom , Absalom! is also a masterpiece . The description of Sutpen demonstrates doom brought about by the denial of humanity . In his work . Faulkner probes problems concerning the doom of families the fall of the south , slavery , racism , Puritanism , incest , murder , alienation and the influence of cultural patterns and family traditions upon the youth . As I Lay Dying represents the decline in human nature and morality , the defects in personality , the ugly things in the heart in order to remind us of the glory :" the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice ." Faulkner believes that sacrifice not only brings us happiness but also adds happiness to others . Light in August expresses his ideas .