William Faulkner's 'Light in August' explores the social alienation of African Americans in the 1930s American South through the character of Joe Christmas, a biracial orphan grappling with his racial identity. The novel highlights the pervasive racial prejudices and discrimination from the white community, exemplified by the brutality of the KKK and the internal and external conflicts faced by characters like Christmas and Gail Hightower, who struggles with his family's past. Ultimately, the narrative reflects on the emotional and physical toll of racism and social rejection.

1. Light In August Essay
William Faulkner's Light in August portrays the social alienation of African Americans in the South
during the 20th century. The novel was based in the American South, during the 1930s, when racial
tensions continued to surge. Faulkner exploited Joe Christmas, a biracial orphan, to represent the
social prejudices African Americans faced. Christmas continuously struggled with his racial identity
throughout the novel. Along with the internal conflict, Christmas also faced an external conflict
with Jefferson's townspeople. Since he was a child, Christmas experienced racial slurs and
discrimination, which illustrated the emotional abuse he faced. In William Faulkner's Light in
August, the segregation and discrimination that was demonstrated throughout...show more content...
The white community of Jefferson believes "every Negro is worthless" and the Presbyterians
believe, "every person who doesn't work hard and advance materially is destined for Hell."
(Anderson 20). During this time period the K.K.K. was still prominent. Gail Hightower is a citizen
of Jefferson that was often brutalized by the K.K.K. Hightower used to be the priest, but lost his
church through a rumor of him having an affair with his African American cook. Hightower was one
of Jefferson's citizens that accepted African Americans for who they were, but constantly suffered
emotionally and physically because of it. In chapter twenty of Light in August, Hightower
introduces how his family's past has haunted him. Hightower's life was shaped by the stories of
his grandfather, a former slave owner, and his dad who had abolitionist views. Constantly
searching for his father's approval, Hightower's father went and fought on the wrong side of the
Civil War for four years. In his years of service, Hightower's father never fired a gun. As, he grew up
Hightower struggled with living in the shadow of his dead ancestors racial
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