Light in August by William Faulkner - Analysis of Characters and Themes - Lecture 23

Explore a 50-minute lecture from Yale University's "Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner" course, focusing on William Faulkner's "Light in August." Examine how the novel portrays the transformation of strangers' kindness into malice, particularly in the cases of Joanna Burden and Reverend Hightower. Analyze the comedic elements in Joanna's death and the complex ethical dimensions of Reverend Hightower's character. Investigate the parallel narratives of Lena Grove and Joe Christmas, exploring their shared passive consciousness and how they become vessels for others' actions. Delve into topics such as Christianity, Southern hospitality, political theology, and the resentment between Southerners and Northern abolitionists. Note that this lecture contains graphic content and adult language that some viewers may find disturbing.