William Faulkner’s “Sanctuary” is one of the most controversial novels of its time. It explores many topics that were considered taboo at the time. It explores the evil alcohol, and explores the corruption of the innocent by those that are already evil. The following will explore the topic of evil as defined by Faulkner.
The nation and operation of evil are defined by the actions of the characters. Popeye is a prime exemplar of the essence of evil. He has a criminal past and is involved in an illegal bootlegging operation. He represents the criminal underworld. He commits rape and keeps her as a salve in the brothel. Goodwin is accused of murdering Tommy. The bootleggers, brothel operators, and other criminal types in the novel demonstrate that they are evil by their actions. They would not be considered evil if it were not for their actions. Those that are good and those that are evil in the novel are distinguished by what they do to others.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"The Treatment of Evil in William Faulkner’s “Sanctuary”".
The reader is given clues to the motives of the actions of the characters. Those that have alcoholic pasts, engage in fighting and other acts, such as rape are clues that they have not had a nurturing childhood and past. Faulkner gives clues that Popeye may have had a physical ailment that may have caused him pain in the past. The habits of the characters provide clues that they have a common past of suffering and that they are using the best coping mechanisms that they know how to use. Of Popeye, Faulkner says that Popeye has small hands, is pale in color, and has eyes like rubber knobs. Faulkner says that Popeye’s eyes have the, “vicious depthless quality of stamped tin,” (Faulkner, p. 4).
The “evil” characters in the novel are not evil in essence, but are a group of people who have been hurt in the past that have found each other and find common ground in their hurt. The “evil” characters do not see any reason to change, as this is the only coping mechanism that they know. The author draws sympathy for the characters from the reader by giving them clues that they are not aware of their “evil” qualities. They are simply reacting to the world around them and the chain of events in the novel.
The nature of good and evil have been a topic of art throughout history. The topic of good and evil has been seen in paintings and literature since the beginning man’s first recorded history. The main question is whether true evil actually exists in man or whether man is simply the victim of circumstances in their lives that make them do things to hurt others, as they have been hurt. Faulkner presents a cast of characters that his contemporary audience may not have viewed in the same light as a modern audience sees them. The characterization of good and evil, through fall of Temple from a “good girl” into evil contributes to the concept of good and evil that Faulkner wishes to convey.
A psychological and sociological definition of evil is most appropriate to this work. The psychological perspective of evil does not define it as a state of being, but rather a reaction to circumstances. The sociological perspective defines it by the acts that a person commits. The sociological perspective of evil compares the person’s actions to a set of expectations and standards that are defined by society. Faulkner subscribes to a psychological and sociological definition of good and evil that characterizes a person by their actions. He uses comparison and contrast to further his definition. The comparison and contrast no only comes from the cast of characters and the audience’s classification of them as good or evil, but also from the known societal expectations with which his audience would be familiar. Faulkner draws on the preexisting knowledge of the audience to make his comparisons of the characters and the social rules of society.
- Faulkner, William. Sanctuary. 1931. New York, New York: Modern Library.
