The Victimization Of A Mulatto By Racial Discrimination In Light In August

William Faulkner is one of the most influential writers of America in the twentieth century. Faulkner's Light in August ranks among the most excellent works of world literature that reflects the moral themes associated with the ruins of the deep South. The protagonist of this novel—Joe Christmas's tragedy historically reveals the racism of the Southern society. This thesis will discuss the tragedy of Joe Christmas and his sufferings caused by both society and himself. On the one side, Joe is a victim of the corrupted society. In the American South of the twentieth century, white supremacy was a strong social force. It is impermissible for there to be ambiguity in someone's racial identity. A mulatto, a person of mixed racial background like Joe, is doomed to be rejected by society. On the other side, Joe becomes so obsessed with discovering his true racial identity that he cannot extricate himself. In a sense, Joe himself is also the creator of his plight. The thesis dissects Joe's last awakening in Chapter four. It points out that the ultimate meaning of the novel is not only to expose the sufferings of human beings brought about by racist society, but also to express the author's sympathy with and hope for its victims.