Book Report- Absalom, Absalom!

Faulkner, William. Absalom, Absalom! Place of Publication. Company: Date.

Reason, Type and Setting: This was a narrative about a family in the south during the Civil War. There is action, mystery and adventure throughout the novel. Taking place in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Plot: A woman (Miss Rosa) tells a story of her family and the Supten family to a grandson (Queton) of Mr. Thomas Sutpen. She tells him about the incest, the scandles and the choas. She hopes that one day her story will be shared with the rest of the world if Quenton would become a writer. After one families name was ruined by another, there were murders within the family and scandles through the small Mississippi town. Especially when the half brother of Judith tries to marry her and her brother Henry then kills his half brother Bon, not because of the incestial intentions but the fact that he had negro blood.

Character: Charles Bon is a young man and the abandoned son of Thomas Supten. He has part negro blood on his mother's side, but he is educated and eventually make the decision to enroll in the army. He becomes friend with his half-brother Henry, that neither realised their relation. After Henry introduced Bon to his sister Judith, the two had plans for marriage. Later Henry found out of Bon's relation and then learns of his negro blood and for that reason he murders his sister fiance. Through out the book it is sugested that Henry himself may have had sexual feelings toward his siter as well.

Evaluation: I didn't enjoy this novel as much as other novels I have read recently. The actual story and plot were interesting and unique, but the author's style was untraditiomal and in this case i didn't enjoy the way it was written. I am not sure if i would recommend this book to others, but it did have educational value and I learned more about the south and southern mindset from a different perspective.

It's hard to compare this book to life now because our world is so different then it was then. Though there are prejudices and racism now, it is not nearly as bad as it used to be. Certain parts of the story remind me of current events such as incest and rape, although these are unfortunate events they do happen now and they happened then. It is sad to think that these circumstances have not greatly changed.

Author, Context andfa Trivia:Faulkner wrote many other books including: As I Lay Dying, The Hamlet, The Sound and the Fury, Light in August, and Knight's Gambit. Faulkner is a famous writer and is still recognized today for his talent. I have not read any other books by Faulkner. Even though I have not read a book by Faulkner other than this one, I have read The Color Purple which has similar ideas as Absalom, Absalom!