A Study Of Faulkner's Women Complex

A giant in the realm of American literature, Faulkner has been the focus of criticism since the beginning of his literary career. Undoubtedly, women characters play an important role in Faulkner's works. A deep exploration of his women characters can provide a better understanding of his works'profound meaning. Up to now, there are two views on Faulkner's attitudes toward women in literary critic circle. On the one hand, some critics emphasize the evil and destructive aspects of women characters in Faulkner's works. Thus Faulkner was charged as male Chauvinist or even a misogynist. On the other hand, there are scholars who hold that Faulkner has sympathy with, and even admiration for his women characters. They assert that women in Faulkner's works are full of individuality, creativity and rebellious spirit. Is Faulkner a real women-hater or a women-admirer? This thesis, based on the second point of view, intends to have a reconsideration of Faulkner's attitudes toward women through his most successful and difficult novel The Sound and the Fury from feminist perspective.Structurally, this thesis is divided into four parts. Part One is firstly a brief introduction to William Faulkner and The Sound and the Fury, and then shows the previous comments on Faulkner's views on women and the aim of this thesis.Referring to Faulkner's emotional and life experiences, Part Two devotes to the investigation of Faulkner's women complex that is reflected in the three Compson brothers'obsessive love and hatred toward Caddy. As Caddy plays different roles for the three Compson brothers, their responses toward her represent different aspects of Faulkner's complex feelings for women to some extent. Benjy's eagerness to win Caddy's tenderness reflects Faulkner's affiliation to his mother Maud and his preference for little, innocent girl. Quentin's love for Caddy resembles the love between lovers. Yet Caddy's loss of virginity puts him into great agony, which is a reflection of Faulkner's relation with Estelle. Jason's hatred for Caddy is largely a reflection of Faulkner's ambiguous feeling toward women.Part Three presents Faulkner's expectation of the Southern women. This part is subdivided into two parts. The first part mainly discusses Caddy and her daughter Miss Quentin's effort to challenge the merciless and destructive Southern Patriarchy and Puritanism. Faulkner, the humanist writer, speaks highly of the two new Southern women's awakening of female consciousness and their endless effort for individual independence. This part reveals that rather than regarding women as the cause of evil and trouble, Faulkner apparently views them as a dynamic and creative force in human life. The second part, by discussing the black servant Dilsey, argues that Dilsey is the sole pillar to support the Compson family with her endurance, honesty, compassion and generosity. Faulkner pins the hope and future of"new Southern women"on her.As a result, we come to the conclusion in Part Four that Faulkner is not a misogynist. He is a humanist writer who respects women and admires them. Faulkner's treatment of women throughout The Sound and the Fury indicates that he recognizes the Southern Patriarchy and Puritanism's devastating effects on Southern women, and foresees its inevitable fall. By illustrating his genuine concern for the fate of Caddy, Miss Quentin and Dilsey, Faulkner shows his confidence in their future and points out that they are representatives and hope of the"new Southern women".