The Negative Female Character in the Fiction of William Faulkner (1929-1935)

Abstract

William Cuthbert Faulkner (1897-1962) is a major American twentieth century novelist who reflects his fascination with woman clearly in his literary production by presenting female characters as central. Faulkner evokes the woman as a child, young, mature and an old one, and also as married or unmarried. He also introduces the black woman as well as the white. Moreover, Faulkner examines his female character from various sides and in relation to morality, race, gender, culture and psychological issues.

     This study examines various types of negative female characters and Faulkner's methods of characterization in the following selected texts that were nearly written in the same period (1929-1935): The Sound and the Fury (1929), “A Rose for Emily” (1930), “An Odor of Verbena” (1930), “Dry September” (1931), and Sanctuary (1931). Finally, there is a conclusion that sums up the major findings of the study.