Light Of God Shadow Of Satan

William Faulkner(1897-1962)is acclaimed as one of the most preeminent American writers of the twentieth century,enjoying a high reputation in the history of world's literature.His longest novel,Light in August,the landmark of his writing career, is one of his most celebrated and controversial masterpieces.It attracts the critics' attention immediately upon its publication in 1932,and after 1990s,the European and American literary critics focus on this novel and make greater achievement.Faulkner's main concern,articulated in his Nobel Prize address,is the old verities and truth of the heart,the old universal truth lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed—love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice.This belief has been fully embodied in Light in August.Several protagonists in the novel, such as Lena Grove and Byron Bunch,show the human's virtues and the kindness.At the same time,the vices and evils of human nature,reflected in the villains like Joe Christmas and Percy Grimm are depicted thoroughly by the author.This thesis aims to analyze good and evil of the characters,exposed and potential,with the combination of the text,so that the readers will confirm the belief of the eternity of the light of goodness.Besides the introduction to William Faulkner and Light in August,and the conclusion,the thesis is divided into three parts.Chapter One chiefly introduces Faulkner's view of good and evil and the embodiment of this view in his works.Chapter Two analyzes the manifestation of virtues and vices in the characters from their family, love,death and Christmas's self-identity respectively.Chapter Three explores good and evil of the characters' behavior,on which the social contradictions of early 20^thcentury in Southern US,the settings of the novel,have the great impact.Through the above analyses,the conclusion is achieved that"good prevails over evil"is immortal truth.Faulkner focuses on the exposing of the evil because,by his description,he tries to make people have a more clear understanding of evil and confirm the pursuit of good. Through the novel,Faulkner entirely demonstrates that there still exists hope in life.The goodness of human nature will not vanish and give in;on the contrary,it will conquer the evil,and shines like a bunch of light to illuminate every corner of the world.Only with the guidance of the good can people achieve the destination of happiness.