Light in August

1522 Words4 Pages

In the novel Light in August, Joe Christmas and Joanna Burden are extremely damaged individuals. Both characters were raised in turbulent environments with an emphasis on religion. The sins they committed had a profound impact on them. They knew that their behavior was wrong but they were compelled to continue. Religion became a mental prison for them. A prison that they created but that they would never escape alive. Although Joe and Joanna viewed religion in completely different ways, they both lacked the capacity to forgive themselves because of their upbringing.
For Joanna, religion was a source of comfort that was pushed on her by her father. Joanna was raised by puritans and she lives her life with a constant subconscious fear of hell. She also lacked a mother figure. Joanna never learned what it meant to be a woman because she needed a proper teacher. When she was introduced to Joe Christmas she experienced her first sexual encounter. The pleasure she felt was a shock to her and Joanna became a nymphomaniac. “Within six months she was completely corrupted. It could not be said that he corrupted her”. (Faulkner 260) Joe Christmas was simply a catalyst for Joanna’s descent into sin. She knew that her actions were sinful but she could see no other alternative. “Don’t make me have to pray yet. Dear God, let me be damned a little longer, a little while.” She was blinded by a lust that eventually blossomed into love. Joe released her from her life of isolation and loneliness and she fell for him despite his obvious flaws. She was isolated from the town because of her northern heritage.
For Christmas, religion was a source of shame and suffering. Under the cruel reign of Mr. McEachern, Christmas was subjected to constant beatin...

... middle of paper ...

...into Joe’s arms and to her death. Both characters yearned for peace and freedom but they could not escape the prisons of their pasts.

Works Cited
Faulkner, William. Light in August. New York: Vintage International, 1991.
Lackey, Michael. "The Ideological Function Of The God-Concept In Faulkner's Light In August." Faulkner Journal 21.1/2 (2005): 66-90.
Littleton, Heather, and Carmen Radecki Breitkopf. "Coping With The Experience Of Rape." Psychology Of Women Quarterly 30.1 (2006): 106-116.
Shapero, Benjamin G., et al. "Stressful Life Events And Depression Symptoms: The Effect Of Childhood Emotional Abuse On Stress Reactivity." Journal Of Clinical Psychology 70.3 (2014): 209-223.
Stayton, Jeffrey. "Southern Expressionism: Apocalyptic Hillscapes, Racial Panoramas, And "Lustmord" In William Faulkner's "Light In August.." Southern Literary Journal 42.1 (2009): 32-56.

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