The mystery of Thomas Sutpen is
heavily emphasized in the first few chapters of the novel, with different
perspectives varying in degrees of negativity that contribute to his ambiguity. The first recount of Sutpen we receive
is from Rosa, which as we have already stated in class, was largely
off-putting, portraying the character as a demonic figure without elaborating
on her rather vague opinion otherwise.
It is not until the second chapter that we receive an alternative view
of Sutpen, this time from Quentin’s father. He fills in many of the details Rosa left out regarding how
Sutpen first established himself in Jefferson and Sutpen’s Hundred. A mystery still exists about how he
acquired his wealth and developed this respect over the course of time, most of
the rumors being largely negative relating to raiding steamboats and other
violent crimes.
Rosa’s demonic portrayal of
Sutpen makes him seem as though he is motivated by pure evil, the first image
that is implanted into the reader’s mind. While Quentin’s fathers portrayal of
Sutpen brings him back down to earth with more human qualities, there is still
the mention of Sutpen’s crimes and slave fights. By no means does the man have clean hands, but his
intentions and prior history are still unknown, while at the same time some
desirable qualities do exist to a certain extent. He built something from
nothing, and established himself in a town where he knew no one and had no
influence, the essence of the capitalist spirit. His intentions could very well be as bad as the results
themselves, but perhaps Faulkner is using his character as a way to exemplify
the darker side of greed and human nature, rather than just a common antagonist
and plot device.
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