Gothic as Subversion of Social Reality in William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!

Abstract

Faulkner'sAbsalom, Absalom! shows the dream, the moral decay, crime, mental torture, murder and the evils of society inthe South through the use of gothic elements. Having gothic elements, it clearly picturizes the dark side of the society. Faulkner shows howan individual involvesin destruction to establish his noble family dynasty. In the novel, Faulkner explores mystery, suspense, horror, terror, dream, fantasy and doubleness to present the dark brooding themes of passion, secretion and human fallibility in order to subvert thereality. Discrimination and its effect directly focus on the human psyche where fear, terror, dilemma and horror exist inside human mind that may lead ustothe destructive path.