Perception
is a powerful tool that Faulkner uses throughout Absalom, Absalom! and many of his other literary works. From the first couple of chapters alone,
Faulkner’s narration becomes intermeshed with varying perspectives of the same
event. In the first chapter Rosa
provides Quentin with a bitter and resentful overview of Thomas Supten’s
arrival in Jefferson; however, the next chapter reveals a similar and less cynical
version of this same story from Quentin’s father, Mr. Compson. These varying perspectives offer the reader
insight to different sides of this story, but also add confusion and ambiguity
to the truth behind the actual events.
I believe that if this story was
told from one perspective or and third person narrative it would be completely
different experience. Faulkner has a way
of laying out the external or physical components of a story, while at the same
time, uncovering how these outside events internally affect his
characters. The person who tells a story,
whether they label it as fact or fiction, heavily influences how that story is
depicted. Faulkner’s book touches on the
problem with looking back into history; it is not only confusing or ambiguous,
but also extremely biased. This book is
powerful, because it presents life, as it really is, through varying subjective
experiences.
I would agree that the power of perspective is important in this story. In novels it can be almost unrealistic to see a story told in one way. In life, people will give several different opinions and stories about and of the same event. Rosa gives us a highly emotional perspective on events. She is tainted, perhaps due to her relationship with Thomas Sutpen, which is at this point unclear. However, there is some aspect to her life that has created this almost supernatural bitterness, which is seen in her story. Throughout her tale Rosa seems negative, Sutpen is described demonically, and her story comes out foggy due to her anger or hurt. Quentin’s father, Mr. Compson, tells his story in such a way that it comes across as folklore. His perspective shows the questions and judgment of the town. In his story there is a fear of the unknown. So while Sutpen does not seem supernaturally evil in this tale, he is surrounded with an air of mystery.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a very interesting point you're bringing up, Chelsea. Faulkner's use of perspective in this novel is interesting to me for a number of reasons, but mainly in just how much it differs from our last novel, Moby-Dick. Another thing I find interesting about Faulkner's presentation is just how many sides of one story can exist, as evidenced by Rosa nad Compson. I think Faulkner intended for these differing perspectives to demonstrate to the reader that the role and purpose of the Civil War and the Confederate South were ambiguous and not necessarily clear to all involved.
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