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How Does Joe Christmas Symbolism

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There is no way to avoid the many religious symbols in the Light In August. Joe Christmas is easily classified as a Christ figure from an outside view. The last name Christmas shows an obvious connection to the mythical figure of Jesus Christ. By using a name such as this, the reader quickly assumes that portraying him in this way is William Faulkner’s intention. This false sense that people have is actually the farthest thing from what Faulkner intended. William Faulkner was a man against religion. He just simply didn’t see the significance of it. He classified himself as a protestant but was never fully invested in the idea. In William Faulkner’s fictional novel Light In August, religion is often scrutinized indirectly through the actions of hypocritical characters. Joe Christmas is the most …show more content…

Reverend Gail Hightower is another character that is used to give an obvious representation of religion. Hightower is a pastor of a church, and claims to be a holy man throughout the novel. Like Christmas, Hightower has a darker side that may be harder to notice at first. Hightower is described, “But his teeth were tight together and his face looked like the face of Satan in the old prints” (72). Faulkner hints again at the connection between a strong religious figure and corruption. Hightower is a uniformed representation of the entire hypocritical attitude of religious people. Racism was very prevalent during this time period. Often throughout the novel, scenes are depicted in which characters speak out about “God’s disapproval of negros” and other things along those lines. Faulkner is using characters such as Hightower to show the common problem of people using their religion as an excuse to be racist. Many believe that being a religious person gives you entitlement over other people. Faulkner speaks out against the hypocrisy of religious people through an obvious religious figure and major

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