The Sound Of Polyphony:a Bakhtinian Interpretation Of Light In August

William Faulkner is a literary master of the American modernism in the twentieth century, and he left many classic works, such as The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom!. Besides, Light in August, as one of Faulkner’s masterpieces, occupies a very important position in his Yoknapatawpha saga. As we know, all of Faulkner’s works are difficult to be understood, among which Light in August is the longest one and probably the most complicated and varied one in the plot and characterization. Since its publication, some critics think that the characters with names are too many, seemingly loose narration is incoherent, and the theme is ambiguous without a unified one. In fact, Faulkner is more unique and innovative in the use of artistic technique in this novel. He unfolds a border real space, creates much richer figures, and reveals a variety of social problems in the American South. Therefore, the present author interprets the character, narration and theme of Light in August from the perspective of Bakhtin’s polyphonic theory, and reveals the novel’s deeper spiritual meaning.The present thesis firstly analyzes the novel’s characterization, and reveals the microdialogue within the text, which is not generally dialogue but is embedded in the double-voiced words of characters. So this dialogism makes readers realize the opposite of characters’ self-consciousnesses and the conflict between different ideas. In addition, heroes of the polyphonic novel are respectively free and independent, that is, they do not stand for the author’s idea, but are parallel with other consciousnesses in the novel, which makes their characters and fate uncertain and unfinalized. Secondly, by juxtaposing different parallel stories and characters’ relationships, counterpoint in the narration is created, so the entire novel is constructed as a great dialogue. Moreover, he does not give a final interpretation to the fate of characters and the ending of the novel is open, which endows the whole narration with indeterminacy. Lastly, diverse themes of the novel are created by the scene of heteroglossia, because different contradictory voices which come from different characters or one character are manifested in each theme. In the case, contradiction and fragmentation of human nature in the pluralistic society are presented in front of readers, which reveal profundity of the theme. Thus, the analysis of Light in August from Bakhtin’s polyphonic theory may make readers better appreciate Faulkner’s unique artistic techniques and think about novelistic form and creation.