Justice and retribution in the novels of William Faulkner

William Faulkner's concern with morality has been reflected in all of his works. In exploring the moral conditions of man's life, he frequently considered justice, injustice, and retribution. The parallel plots of The Wild Palms occur in a world in which justice and morality are independent or separated. The world of the Snopes trilogy (The Hamlet, The Town, The Mansion) is heavily affected by retribution. Novels considered later in the thesis show justice or injustice occurring less randomly. Sanctuary is a story of injustice caused by the immorality of individuals as well as by the institutions of society. It is balanced by Requiem for a Nun, which stresses two aspects of morality: the continuity of society's aspirations and the responsibility of individuals. Intruder in the Dust is similar in theme to Requiem for a Nun; it indicates that society's morality is based on the morality of individuals. Therefore, justice occurs when men of good will seek it for their neighbors. Go Down, Moses extols a morality which harmonizes with nature, but the novel concludes that changing conditions require man to add humanitarianism to the sylvan virtues. The Unvanquished presents the renunciation of revenge as a desirable humanitarian goal. Absalom, Absalom! is a novel in which injustice begets injustice. As in The Unvanquished and in Go Down, Moses, children struggle to escape from the results of their fathers' sins.English, Department o