The Mulattoes' Subversion Of Southern Plantation System In Go Down, Moses

Go Down, Moses is one of the most important novels of William Faulkner. Since its publication in 1942, it has attracted many critics' attention and thus becomes the center of Faulkner criticism. The early critics tend to regard it as a collection of short stories. Now it is generally accepted as a unified novel with two general themes, race and nature.This thesis is to analyze the mulattoes'subversion of Southern plantation system in Faulkner's Go Down, Moses from the perspective of contemporary New Historical criticism. Faulkner, as a white Southern writer, is not to glorify Southern history but to subvert its domination and discrimination of the mulattoes. By analyzing the mulattoes in the context of Southern history and culture, readers could further understand the miserable situations of the mulattoes. The mulattoes, as a special group of people, with perplexed identity, are dominated and discriminated by white planters under Southern plantation system. Unbearable with their social status, the four generations of mulattoes in Go Down, Moses strive to subvert the system and are in full quest for freedom and equality. However, they cannot move across the Southern boundaries, resulting in failures. The tragic fates of the mulattoes reflect Faulkner's moderate attitude towards slavery and racism and his affection with Southern plantations.Chapter One of this thesis is about Southern plantation system and the mulattoes under it in Go Down, Moses. The South distinguishes itself from other regions of the United States especially for its preservation of slavery and plantation system. Chapter Two highlights the mulattoes' subversion of Southern plantation system in Go Down, Moses. Persisting in pursuit for freedom and equality, the mulattoes are no longer passive sufferers. While Chapter Three of this thesis explores the doomed failures of the mulattoes'subversion of Southern plantation system in Go Down, Moses, the last chapter, Chapter Four probes Faulkner's attitude towards slavery and racism and his obsession with these mulattoes'subversion on Southern plantations. Influenced by Southern history, his subversive attitude towards Southern plantation system gradually dies away. The conclusion part, after analyzing the miserable destinies of the mulatto characters in Go Down, Moses, reveals that Faulkner's hope to ease racial conflicts ends with no specific and viable solution.By doing these researches, the author of this thesis believes it is a feasible approach to study Faulkner's Go Down, Moses from the perspective of New Historicism.