An Interpretation Of Human Nature In Light In August

William Faulkner (1897-1962) is one of the most excellent writers in the20th century of America. Rooting in the fertile soil of the American South, he unfolds the harsh social realities of the old South by dint of his works of Yoknapatawpha series and conveys his complicated emotions to his homeland:"Be sympathetic with his sufferings, be infuriated at his indifference".Light in August is his seventh novel. Through a description of social life in Jefferson for ten days, the author reveals several main characters’lifetime and family history. He repeatedly emphasizes that his writing purpose consists in depicting human beings. As for the portrayal of human beings, human nature is undoubtedly the most fundamental element. When the author represents human nature, features of the age and conflicts of human beings are able to be uncovered separately.This thesis falls into four chapters. Chapter One discusses the relations between the author’s humanitarian standpoint and Sartre’s existentialism. Chapter Two divides human nature into three categories:the distorted human nature of Joe Christmas, Joanna Burden and so on, the lost human nature of McEachern, Doc Hines and the like, the glorious human nature of Lena Grove, Byron Bunch and so forth. This chapter discloses the superficial reasons for the formation of human nature by means of comprehensive analysis of the features and the forming process of diverse human nature. Combining with the history, culture, tradition and social realities of southern America, Chapter Three analyses the main factors influencing the formation of human nature from deep ones:racism, Puritanism and sexism. Chapter Four bases its analysis on the author’s humanitarian standpoint and conjoins viewpoints of man’s existence and essence, man’s freedom of choice and responsibilities and the like in Sartre’s existentialism, aiming to make inquires of the essence of human beings and the intact human nature.As a humanitarian writer, he shows his admiration for human nature and condemnation of various social forces and cultural tradition which waywardly damage and alienate human nature. A good many critics hold that his humanitarian thoughts have a strong tendency to existentialism. He keeps a watchful eye on human nature, emphasizes human values and moral perfection and retains unswerving and rosy faith in human beings.Racism, Puritanism and sexism are lethal factors oppressing and destroying human nature. Only if a human being confirms his own worth of existence, makes choices freely and takes on responsibilities doughtily can he possess the integrated human nature and become an authentic self.