Abstract：William Faulkner is one of the most influential writers of American literature history. And he is American novelist, poet and playwright. Light in August is one of his masterpieces. It belongs to the Southern gothic and modernist literary genres, landmark in American fiction.  There are two worlds in the novel, one world is full of death, violence, and scare. However, another world is full of warmth, happiness and justice. And, Light in August includes many themes, for example, racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, violent and the conflicts between individual and society. 

This thesis will explore the roots of Joe’s tragedy in Light in August through discuss the influence of racism, social discrimination, family and personal character. And this thesis is divided into five chapters. The first chapter introduces William Faulkner、his masterpiece Light in August and the critical survey of William Faulkner and Light in August. The second chapter is mainly discusses the life experience of Joe. The third and four are mainly tells readers that Joe is not only a victim of the corrupted society but also a victim of himself. The last chapter is the conclusion.

Keywords:  tragedy  William Faulkner   racial discrimination   social factors

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to William Faulkner-1

1.2 A Brief Introduction to Light in August-1

1.3 Literature Review-2

1.4 The Significance and Structure of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two Joe’s Life Experience-4

2.1 Life in Orphanage-4

2.2 Life with His Foster-Father-4

2.3 Life in Jefferson town-4

Chapter Three Joe Christmas — A Victim of Society-6

3.1 Joe’s Insecurity in His Childhood-6

3.2 Joe’s Growing up under the Shadow of Racial Discrimination-7

3.2.1 Joe’s Sense of Blacks’ Inferiority to Whites-8

3.2.2 White Racists’ Attitude towards Joe-9

Chapter Four Joe Christmas — A Victim of Himself-11

4.1 Joe's Identity Dilemma-11

4.2 Personal Faults-12

Chapter Five Conclusion-13

References-14