The Theme of Alienation in Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy and William Faulkner's Light in August

Abstract

<p>This thesis deals with the theme of alienation in Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy and William Faulkner's Light in August, a comparative approach that highlights both the naturalistic elements in both novels as well as those elements that go beyond the boundaries of naturalism. This paper traces the roots of Clyde Griffiths' and Joe Christmas' self-alienation to their childhood deprivations, distorted religious education and sexual repression. This paper also analyzes how American society turns these two fundamentally different characters into marginal figures who suffer in a very similar way from deeply internalized ambiguities. Deeply alienated from themselves and others these characters are driven to murder their sexual partners, both murders operating in a strikingly similar naturalistic discourse. Both characters are ultimately executed by their society as sacrificial scapegoats. Completely stripped of any sense of selfhood Clyde and Joe are denied any insight and awareness into their lives and deaths.</p>