The Paradoxical Features Of Women Image In Absalom, Absalom!

William Faulkner (1897-1962) is one of the greatest writers of American literature in thetwentieth century. As a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, he is a worldwide famouswriter, whose works are a matter of great concern. He creates the unique Yoknapatawpha sagaby his little postage stamp of native soil, reflects the social unrest and historical change ofAmerican South during the Civil War, and shows the real social life of South America.A large number of female characters enrich his works, causing the story complicated andsplendid, and making the characters’ relationship complex and changeable. At the same time,Faulkner’s attitude to women is a focus topic of many experts and scholars, which leads tovarious analysis of Faulkner’s viewpoint to women. Represented by Linda Wagner andCleanth Brooks, some critics regard him as a philogynist. In their opinion, Faulkner showssympathy and respect for women. However, Leslie Fiedler, Irving Howe and other criticsregard him as a misogynist, they hold that Faulkner hates women and is born with prejudiceand contempt against women.Doubtless, Absalom, Absalom! is a masterpiece of Faulkner, and is the most complexand important work in his writing career. Faulkner himself thought the writing process was atorture. The author of this thesis attempts to discuss Faulkner’s ambivalent views on womenthrough the analysis of the image of southern women in the novel. The thesis consists of threechapters.The first chapter analyzes Faulkner’s ambivalent arrangement of narrative voice andprominently studies the power of narrative in the novel, in accordance with Frenchnarratologist Genette’s narrative theory. With the intention to answer the following questions:who control the discourse power, women or men?The second chapter discusses Faulkner’s contradictory attitude toward SouthernWomanhood Tradition. He is sympathetic toward women’s defense of the tradition and at thesame time respects women’s rebellion against the tradition.The third chapter explores Faulkner’s contrariness in shaping images of women. As afaithful Puritan, Faulkner has strong Puritanism complex, but he notices that women arevictims of Puritanism. Although he is an opponent of racism and sexism, Faulkner gives very little description to black women, and the women in his works are only tools of men to fulfillmen’s instinctive needs or to fulfill fecundity duty.