Sanctuary is by far an easy read, in my opinion, compared to The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying. Yet, Sanctuary is probably Faulkner's most controversial novel because of themes of rape,castration, and lynching. The sexual brutality is beyond words. It's very honest and out in the open. Faulkner has no issue with writing about such scandalous things.
Faulkner has a tendency to have issues with southern women who tend to be a bit more open minded when it comes to life and sex. He characterizes Temple Drake as a "fast girl," meaning she is the voluptous college girl who likes to have a good time, both in and outside the bedroom. At first, it is easy to be angry at Faulkner for characterizing her or being judgemental of her actions. As the story progresses, it is clear why Faulkner characterized her in such a way.
Temple is a bit hard headed; no one can tell her what to do. Instead of going to class, she decides to leave campus with Gowan, who is clearly a heavy drinker. Temple realizes that she's in danger, so she attempts to hide in the barn, but is discovered by several of the drunkards. Then out of nowhere, the shady Popeye barges in and rapes Temple with a corn cob, of all things,mainly because he is impotent. In my opinion, this is Faulkner's idea of "teaching Temple a lesson,"even though this tactic clearly did not work, as Temple looked for sexual pleasure the next day. Even though the rape is by far the most disturbing thing I've ever read, it was almost as if it was brushed off by the characters.
The bloody corn cob can be viewed more than just a tool for raping Temple; it symbolizes legal impotence. Temple, like the other characters, did not seem to be bothered by the rape. Yes, it happened, but she did not seem to dwell on it. She's the daughter of a judge living a privleged ife among those who seem to be "less" than she. Even though the rape is probably the most significant point in the book, the issue of social class can be used here as well. Temple clearly had no clue what she was getting herself into when she decided to skip classes.
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Temple was not sexually active by any means. Faulkner was not judging her for her promiscuity. If anything, he used the character of "Mrs." Goodwin to call her out on her hypocritical teasing of men. And her judgment of women who actually were having sex. Temple's blood is evidence of a loss of virginity. If anything, she was engaging in some "vigorous hand-holding" with college and town boys alike. A corn cob was the first thing to physically violate her.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, Faulkner sympathized with the women of this novel.
And Temple did not brush off the rape. She went insane because of it.
That's what I took from the novel, at least.
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