Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1977

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Coyle, William

Abstract

Suffering in the works of William Faulkner is the relationship between evil, self-acceptance, and moral maturity. Suffering is governed in degree by a character's ability to understand himself and the world, by his ability to accept his own sinful nature, and by his desire to move himself toward inner purity. Four levels of behavior can be identified in the reactions Faulkner's characters have toward evil. A character at level one is blind to evil in the world and especially to evil in himself. A character at level two is trapped by the failures in his life and reacts to the world with hatred and bitterness. On level three the humiliation of accepting his own evil permits personal responsibility for sin in a character's life. On level four, a character attempts to atone for personal sin and achieves inner peace through selflessness.

Extent

65 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FADT13857

Format

pdf

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