Others' Existence: Humanist Ideology In William Faulkner's Light In August

As one of the greatest writers in the twentieth century, William Faulkner, as well as his Yorknaphatwapha saga has been one focus in literary study. Among his Yorknaphatwapha saga, Light in August (1932) was eulogized worldwide for its complex interpersonal relationship, acute social conflicts, and unbelievable religious belief, etc. Critics managed to interpret it from many perspectives since its publication, such as the studies on its style, theme, and racial problem , etc.Although some scholars interpreted the novel from the perspective of historical study, racial study or identity study, they did not interpret it on the basis of finding out the sameness between the writer and the images in the novel. While the thesis maintains that readers should interpret a work combing with its social background, the author's experience and the text itself. Based on elements above, the thesis discovers a keyword that links history, the author and the novel: Other/Otherness.Other is a concept related with many schools in cultural studies. Within the scope of cultural studies, on the basis of different theories, such as racism, feminism, post-colonialism, psychoanalytic theory, etc., the thesis interpreted all Others'situation in and out of Light in August. During William Faulkner's times, compared with the American North, the Deep South became an Other because of poverty and backwardness, therefore Southerners were Others. Compared with most of Southerners'numbness and indifference towards life, through describing unfair phenomenon in his works, Faulkner considered about the destiny and welfare of human out of high responsibility, which made him an Other in the South. His Otherness, when reflected in Light in August, is shown through stories of three group Others—the average white men, women and the blacks, and a single Other image Joe Christmas. Therefore not only the novel is interpreted deeply, but also Faulkner's humanist thought is embodied clearly by the portrait of many Others: he hoped to establish a more harmonious world guided by humanism.In the category of cultural studies, the thesis proves Faulkner's humanist ideal in depth by interpretation of all Others outside and inside Light in August. Six chapters constitute the whole thesis. Chapter One is the introduction to William Faulkner, the novel, and the layout and significance of the study. Chapter Two contains the concept of Other/Otherness, and the finding that William Faulkner is actually an Other in his era. Chapter Three is the criticism towards hierarchy, blind belief on religion in the South, prejudice to the blacks and women by analysis of three main group Others'existence. Chapter Four is the reflection of social problems, racism especially, from Joe Christmas'non-category tragedy. Chapter Five is the distillation of content above to find out William Faulkner's Humanism in his works. Chapter Six is the conclusion.