Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the novel "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner. Specifically, the paper analyzes what elements makes the novel southern Gothic. The paper explains that it is considered one of Faulkner's greatest novels, and an important example of southern Gothic fiction, as well. The paper concludes that the novel uses vivid characters and beautiful writing to get its point across, and Faulkner proves he is one of the greatest writers of southern Gothic to ever live.

From the Paper
"William Faulkner is most known as a southern writer who chronicled life in mythical Yoknapatawpha County Mississippi, a place he wrote about often in his fiction. "Absalom, Absalom!" is one of the best examples of his work, and it represents the best in Southern Gothic fiction, as many critics contend. Southern Gothic is a form of American Gothic writing that morphed from true Gothic writing which began in the 18th century in Europe with such writers as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and many others. Edgar Allen Poe is a good example of the American Gothic writer, so the reader begins to see some of the characteristics of Southern Gothic and how it applies to Faulkner. The editors of the Oprah.com Web site note, "Southern gothic writers leverage the details of the American South--the lonely plantations, aging Southern belles, dusty downtowns, dilapidated slave quarters, Spanish moss and Southern charm--to bring life to their slice of history" (Editors). Clearly, there are several elements of Faulkner's work that emulate Southern Gothic fiction, in fact, it is considered to be the classic of the genre by many experts. As one critic notes of the book, it "had been seen largely as a particularly harrowing specimen of southern Gothic, or in some circles, as a work of southern 'social realism' to be place alongside Erskin Caldwell's "Tobacco Road" and other novels" (Hobson 5). What makes Faulkner's works Southern Gothic combines many elements to create a story of a tragic hero, convinced of his own greatness, who tells a macabre and highly emotional tale of southern history and culture."

Tags:gothic southern, civil war

Abstract
This paper explores the concept of intersectionality, which is the belief that systems of oppression reinforce each other. The author points out that William Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom!" is a novel that demonstrates that race and class are not only important because of what they culturally represent but also because of how the labels, such as "black", can affect the way people view and treat one another. The paper also relates that this book illustrates how race, in both a social and a biological sense, and class cannot be looked at as two separate entities but, instead, must be viewed as concurrent and coexisting ideas. The author presents the novel from the view point of the protagonist Thomas Sutpen.

From the Paper
"Thomas Sutpen experiences an intersection of race and class when he is a young boy. Sometime during his youth, his father asks him to deliver a message to one of the rich whites in town. He does, and when he gets to the front door, a black man answers. The man was a servant of some kind and asked Sutpen to come around to the back door. Before this incident, Sutpen's only "trouble was innocence." He had believed that white men were white and black men were black, and that automatically put the whites on top of the blacks."

Tags:coexisting, labels, biological, lifestyle, demise

Abstract
This paper reviews and critiques William Faulkner's novels "The Sound and the Fury" and "Absalom! Absalom!". The author maintains that both novels share the same objective -- to demonstrate the way in which people perceive and interpret past events. Furthermore, both works forgo traditional, chronological writing, opting instead for stream of consciousness. The paper explains that these techniques, coupled with strong characterization, reveals not only the novels' major themes but also some of the smaller, underlying themes hidden within the pages.

From the Paper
"As with many of Faulkner's writings, 'The Sound and the Fury' and 'Absalom! Absalom!' share the common prevailing theme of the destruction of the South or society post-Civil War. Another important theme, but only within 'The Sound and the Fury' is that of time, one's perception of time, and the affect of time. However, reading deeper into the novels reveals several other important if not prevalent themes. For instance the destruction of the family and of the self. The novels, though, are essentially one in the same despite the obvious differences such as the story being told differently or the use of different characters with the exception of Quentin. Furthermore, many of the events, as well as the characters, within 'The Sound and the Fury' are merely reflections of those present in 'Absalom! Absalom!'."

Tags:literature, stream, of, consciousness, characterization, American, South, Civil, War, slavery

Abstract
This paper takes a close look at two major scenes in William Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom!" in which white bodies are denied entrance by black bodies. The paper looks at how this affects the characters' understanding of their racial identity and examines how these images of doorways and thresholds relate to the murder of Charles Bon.

From the Paper
"In his article, ?Behind Closed Doors: The Unknowable and Unknowing in Absalom, Absalom!,? Herberden Ryan states, "the most crucial moments of the story involve the crossing of some thresholds, and the threshold between narrated events (past) and the narration of them (present) is perhaps the most basic" (295). In particular, Ryan examines two key door scenes, the young Thomas Sutpen's attempt to enter the slave-owner's front door in Tidewater, Virginia in 1820; and Rosa Coldfield's attempt to pass Clytie Sutpen at Sutpen's Hundred in 1865. In their own way, both Sutpen and Rosa make it through their doorways, but at a great price, and in many other ways what they find on the other side is not always what they thought they would find. Furthermore, as Ryan argues, the readers of Absalom, Absalom! are often faced with their own doors as some events are hidden or witheld from them by Faulkner as means of narrative technique."

Tags:clytie, coldfield, rosa, sutpen, thomas

Abstract
This paper discusses how both Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and Dryden's 'Absalom and Achitophel' reflect similar methods in showing the temptation of their characters. Though numerous similarities exist, the temptation scenes from the poems seem to be most common in two ways: the techniques and language used by both tempters the serpent and Achitophel and the actions and reactions of the tempted characters, Absalom and Eve. The bath further discusses how during both of these the use of Biblical description and language as well as commentary on God's word is also present in both.

From the Paper
"Through the examination and comparison of these areas it is easy to establish the connection in pervasive and effective verse incorporated into both poems. Both Achitophel and the serpent are highly persuasive during the temptations. Both call upon the vanity of their subject, calling them royal names and flattering them."

Tags:literature, poetry, comparison

Abstract
This three-page undergraduate paper is on the book "Absalom" written by William Faulkner, addresses the great burden on American history, racism. It includes, though the writer wrote about Mississippi, what did he described that could have clearly easily been said about the Florida plantation region. And what does Faulkner tell us about racism particularly in the south, how has racism affected Florida's past and present?

Abstract
This paper is on the book "Absalom" written by William Faulkner, addresses the great burden on American history, racism. It includes, though the writer wrote about Mississippi, what did he described that could have clearly easily been said about the Florida plantation region. And what does Faulkner tell us about racism particularly in the south, how has racism affected Florida's past and present?

Abstract
The paper compares the ideals in the novel to the ideals in Faulkner's 1950 Nobel Prize speech.

From the Paper
"The ideals in William Faulkner's Nobel Prize for Literature Acceptance Speech can be linked closely with the ideals in his novel, "Absalom, Absalom." Especially central to the theme of the novel is that of family relationships, the theme of the speech is related to this concept. In Faulkner's speech, he makes the case for overcoming a general and universal physical fear. Without the components of love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice, Nobel writers lose the grasp of..."

Tags:Faulkner, Sutpen, family, Nobel Prize, Absalom, Absalom!

Abstract
This paper discusses how Rosa Coldfield stands as the most prominent link between past and present in William Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom!" The paper looks at the initial impression of morbidity and death that the reader encounters with the character. It then shows how Rosa's deeper role in the novel is unfolded by her strong presence and the way she forcefully affects the present.

From the Paper
"In having this character, who is stuck in the past, so profoundly affect present events, perhaps Faulkner is using the character of Miss Rosa to make a larger point. Even though events may be several generations past and be shrouded by the obscure myths of hazy memory and deceit, these past events affect the here and now decisively. Perhaps the grim moral that both Absalom, Absalom! and Miss Rosa teach us is that not only are our own pasts inescapable, but the past of our forefathers may also come back to haunt us."

Tags:Colonel, Sutpen, Quentin, Clytie

Abstract
This paper analyzes the poem, "Absalom and Achitophel", by John Dryden, in which the Whigs and their leader, the Earl of Shaftsbury, attempt to overthrow King Charles II by means of the scandalous popish plot. By exposing Slingsby's personal vices of deception and greed, Dryden's satire attempts to persuade the people that the Whigs are unfit for rule and of the guilt of their leader, the Earl of Shaftsbury. The author of this paper looks at the satire within the poem and discusses the historical themes of law and metaphorical references to the bible throughout the paper. The paper asserts that Dryden utilizes biblical characters to represent members of the conspiracy. Furthermore, by the use of satire, Dryden exposes the vices of deception and greed for money and power within Bethel's personality. Ultimately, the paper states that Dryden successfully demonstrates the complete failure of the Whigs leadership abilities and the Popish Plot.

From the Paper
"Another example of Slingsby Bethel's vice of depiction and greed is in his inability to uphold the law. First, we must recall the popular neoclassic belief about Law as defined by Thomas Hobbe. In the biblical story of Adam and Eve, mankind's innocence is tragically disregarded by a moment of self-will, thus sealing mankind's natural instinct of selfishness and greed. Therefore, laws were created to keep mankind's natural instinctual yet destructive vices of deception, selfishness, and greed in check. In short, laws are regarded as good. There are two examples of Dryden's indictment of the sheriff's callousness to Hobbian Law. The first example of reckless abandonment of the law is demonstrated in the following passage; 'His hand a vare of justice did uphold; His neck was loaded with a chain of gold' (595). In these lines, the sheriff seemingly upholds justice. However, he is chained by the wealth of the Whigs which provides him 'gold' far behind his means. The sheriff is bribeable, which leaves the law unstable and for sale. Also, Bethel is not autonomous in his duties; he is collared by a gold chain held firmly by the Whigs. Perhaps a better example is demonstrated when Dryden explores Slingsby's philosophy on the law. 'For laws are only made to punish those who serve the king and to protect his foes' (610). This line clearly shows Slingsby's selective use of the law. The sheriff believes laws only apply to the loyal Torries, not the disloyal Whigs. Therefore, the sheriff and the Whigs are above Hobbian law, leaving them guilty of sin, without morality, and incompetent to rule."

Tags:absalom, achitophel, satire, biblical, metaphors