Absalom, Absalom! and Religious Symbols (Chapters 5, 6) by William Faulkner - Analysis, Review

[@TheCodeXCantina]

**CONTENT WARNING ** Just so you know, in this video we discuss a major plot item that has been hinted at in these chapters. However, it is not confirmed officially until Chapter 7. It is a major reveal for those who didn't have inclinations of it. We discuss the hints in these chapters as true even though it's not confirmed yet by the narrative. If you are avoiding all forms of plot spoilers, please be aware you should read Chapter 7 first and then watch this video. We apologize for not being cleaner on this. Absalom, Absalom! In-Depth Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJa2fKiBrJariLc BOOKMARKS: Plot: @2:02 Analysis: Old South Allegory: @6:27 Charles as Christ-like Figure: @13:31 Greek Comparisons: @20:20

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Thanks for watching!

[@Starscreamlive]

Whoever said that Rosa couldn't talk for two hours straight obviously has never met an elderly Southern lady before. 🤣

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Hmmmm. I see you're going somewhere with this :)

[@andre99249]

But it's not Rosa speaking really. It's Quentin remembering Rosa talking (he's processing the information). The entire chapter is in Quentin's mind that's why it's italic all the way through and that's why he doesn't interrupt her as Shreve does in chapter 7 (because if he did interrupt her he doesn't need to process those parts only the essential).

[@Dimebag91]

First of all, I'm really grateful to you guys, you guys are the best in terms of motivating the fellow readers and in breaking down the stuff. Secondly, you guys are incredibly lucky because you guys have each other when you both are tackling a book and do buddy reads and whatnot. You rock, fellas!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Our pleasure! And yes, we are very lucky beyond just books to have found good friendship with each other :D

[@24sherbear]

(forgive the length) I picked up Absolam Absolam a few weeks ago and found your channel as I searched for supplemental information. I have really enjoyed your discussions. I am just now at this point and I don't watch the video until I have finished the chapters. I love all the symbolism and allegory. I was actually finishing Don Quixote when I started this book. And, I am so glad I read them this way. I had put off Faulkner for a lifetime because his name is synonymous with "difficult read." But, after falling into Cervantes's rhythm of writing and the page's long sentences and paragraphs, and the loose association with punctuation, I was in the headspace for Faulkner. I am not finding his style difficult. Complex and dense but not difficult. I also read Great Expectations along with Don Quixote and I see so many similarities. Ms. Havisham was stuck in time wearing only her white wedding dress. Ms. Coldfield only wears mourning black. There is a Compeyson in GE and Compson in Absolam. I could see Quentin as a kind of Pip - the two old ladies stuck in time sending for this younger generation of young men. I love the references to Shakespeare, the Greeks, and the Bible. And, I have always been into the meanings of names and dream interpretation. I notice, so far. Col Satoris doesn't play a big part in this book though his name is mentioned as a founder of Jefferson. I looked up his name and the root Satori, which means "comprehension and understanding. Seeing one's true nature." Do you bring that into this story at all? I have fallen in love with this book and you have helped me a great deal. I've always loved Southern writers and I have to say Great Expectations and Absolam mirror my own family in some pretty interesting ways. I had a grandmother, and I don't know what stunted her development, but somewhere in her 40's she started only wearing white and did so until her death in her 80s. I also had a great-aunt named Clytie! Literature as a mirror for the reader! Great job! and thank you!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

So glad you could love the book. Thanks for the kind words

[@BookishTexan]

Faulkner does love to use rotting, moldering houses to signify the decay of the South. Krypto's point about why some formerly enslaved people were willing to/ wanted to stay with the way things were under slavery is really important, because it shows another aspect of the long term damage done by slavery. Also, a great point about the attitudes of poor whites and their attitudes toward the end of slavery. Loved the faces discussion. Great job again. Are you sure you guys don't want to read _The Sound and the Fury_ with Allen and I as a part of Faulkner in August. Would love to have your contributions to that. After _Absalom, Absalom_ _The Sound and the Fury_ will be a piece of cake.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

We were planning on participating. We were originally going to read The Sound and the Fury for Easter since it takes place in April but we swapped it with Absalom to try to join in. That's a rough month with the return to school and all we'll do our best. I look forward to re-reading it. That was the second one I read after As I Lay Dying I believe.

[@BookishTexan]

@@TheCodeXCantina Great. I guess I got confused. I am getting old. August is a rough month with school starting. Looking forward to it.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

@@BookishTexan I have slated one chapter a week for August. Not sure if that's the schedule you were going to push but I have all our reading set aside for that.

[@ΑνδρομάχηΜαντζανίδου-ψ8ζ]

You ‘re doing amazing work. Thank you.

[@nickh2647]

Upon reading this story you guys brought a new vison as the first take of me reading it I didn't think of these strategies that Faulkner was using. Thank you for helping me with an Essay!!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I hope your essay goes great!

[@choggerboom]

This Book is KICKING my ass, at many times I just completely miss the train, never see it pass even. But I can’t put it down, I am utterly mesmerized by his prose, and all that is happening both of what I’m able to catch and all that’s but a shard or thread of major plot or instance that flew by unnoticed, not knowing whether I’ve missed something because I’ve zoned out a section or two or if what had happened is just beyond my reading level to detect it (occam’s razor likely here, for I am really trying my best) but man, oh man.. there’s just those times in Faulkner’s works, these spurious moments of description or revelation that Faulkner cultures.. that, too my experience reading it, transcends whatever ideas about limits upon emotion that I once thought capable and true, that manifests internally as some sort of blasting fit of ecstasy and euphoria that no other artist has really ever came close to elicit to any similar degree by any other medium-it is these moments I could very easily put the book down and weep, not from sadness or frustration but utter disbelief about the intensity in which his language had just moved me (and look how I’m imitating him now through language, it is infectious) and so with that I will put an end to my comment here, thanking you two for this wonderful breakdown and for allowing me a brief rest to recalibrate and adjust (fix) my understanding of where the hell I thought I was within this novel and adjust it to what better minds like you two here have to say about it’s summary, so thank you again for this breakdown, and for allowing me to try again with chapter 7&8! Alright, I’m off!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

7 is my favorite chapter! The book just really comes together on your understanding of Sutpen. I hope you enjoy it!

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

I am so with you on this! I am 185 pages in and the prose have absolutely blown my mind. I cannot even fathom this all coming from one mind. Faulkner was one of my favorite writers before this (LOVED As I Lay Dying and really liked The Sound and the Fury), but Absalom already just takes him to another level in my view. This is on pace to becoming my favorite book ever. I am less blown away than all these people seem to be with the allusion to religion and Greek mythology, and more taken aback by Faulkner's unbelievable prose and his general insight into life and humanity.

[@choggerboom]

@@nicholasmaxwell9899 ah yes! you have completely hit the nail on something I’ve been wanting to express but hadn’t arrived to saying it as plainly as you have just now, and that’s that the prose and poetry of his use of language is simply more important to me than plot alone or however he’s able to make fit some genius reference to canonical works or world myth, which all of these things are utterly, utterly genius and deserve to be fawned/discussed/analyzed over (as they are of course in the case of reality and literary discourse), but I never hear enough about that otherworldly prose! it’s the prose of Faulkner. It is the prose and how he shapes that prose--- to which when I see my copy of light in August or the sound and fury on the shelf or night stand, I don’t merely see a book, I see a beating heart. And that heart is Faulkner’s. The complexity of thought he’s able to take aim upon, attempt, and execute with such impossible precision and grace is an accomplishment that I’ve never discovered before him, never thought possible. It’s like an existential jolt of pure candid surprise and euphoria upon seeing it be done throughout his works, to which such moments seem to roll out on a near page-by-page frequency. Which is dumbfounding. My journey into literature had a late start, so please take that into account to what I’m about to say, but I feel like I relate to that palpable feeling/emotion felt in the way one hears literary scholars talk about Shakespeare in that amazed trance-like astonishment, I feel whatever that is must be similar in nature to the way in which I experience reading Faulkner. He’s got me captive. And now I’ve gotten to the point of commenting on a Faulkner video where I’ve realized I must utilize some self control before I ramble off into infinity, so I’ll stop there. You made my night with your reply!

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

@@choggerboom You put it so well and it's crazy because I feel PRECISELY the same way as you do. I had already made that comparison to Shakespeare in my mind, so it's amazing to see someone else come to the same conclusion. Faulkner's writing, like Shakespeare's, seems to TRANSCEND mere writing. Their work is inspiring in that it shows you a level of consciousness, through which you can take life in, that you weren't even aware was available to you. It makes you want to go out into life and start noticing things, all things, in the most fantastic detail imaginable, so as to feel and experience that euphoria that only comes through understanding the many truths of life.

[@choggerboom]

@@nicholasmaxwell9899 yes what a point! It breathes such an inspiration upon the very essence of “being”, to go out and be present with it and see all that is there to the very ends of minutiae and micro detail possible, because it’s there dancing all around you, you just have to have a patience and more thoughtful gaze. And what a power that is to be able to elicit such a feeling to a reader. It is transcendent. I will never forget the start of Quentin’s chapter in TSATF, after trudging through Benjy’s opening that was half psychedelic experience and half utter discombobulation, to then begin with that quote of all quotes with Mr. Compson gift of the watch- Right then and there I felt the precious delicacy of being, and it quite nearly brought me to tears. If you told me I was floating in that moment I would say I know. I know I was! I’ve got 3 chapters left of Absalom, and then I’ve got As I lay Dying to complete what heralds to be his greatest novels, so I might pay you a visit in the comments or the inbox again if I become moved so strongly as to feel the existential need to share my appreciation, to which I expect at this point. ENJOY chapter 7

[@bdyanez23]

Loving the analysis! Perfect partner to the book!! Wondering what line in Chapter 6 reveals to you that Charles is Sutpen’s son? I caught the part about why Rosa rejected Sutpen but not the part about Charles!!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

It's been a while, I'd have to re-read the story.

[@andre99249]

The same here. It's obvious now why she dislikes Sutpen but the part where the piece of information about Charles being Sutpen's son is revealed I didn't catch it and I read carefully. But anyway I'm loving the discussion, Charles as a Christ-like figure was something I wouldn't notice so thanks so much...your insight is being helpful...also Luster appearance made my day while I was reading haha "The Sound and the Fury" is one of my all-time favorite books.

[@lorn6294]

Yeah, I don't see the Sutpen/Bon reveal happening in chapter 6. Nor is it referred to in any chapter 6 or chapter 5 summaries I've read online.

[@seasorolla]

Same. I was relieved to see this comment because I reread chapter 6 to see where I missed it and couldn't find it 😭

[@joshiahayash]

It's not. Una either spoiled it for Krypto or Krypto somehow wildly misread the chapter and stumbled into the truth extra-textually, which I highly doubt. Very annoying and boy am I glad that I didn't watch this playlist until I read the book in its entirety.

[@Starscreamlive]

I never even picked up on Bon being a Christ-like figure. I'm usually quick to pick up on Christ-like figures in stories, but during this re-read I was so wrapped up in the Greek allusions that I never even noticed. Greek Comparisons: Rosa is in full on Cassandra mode in Chapter V. Rosa/Cassandra basically belongs to Sutpen/Agamemnon now that the war is over (Civil War/Troy). Sutpen's Hundred is deteriorating and in disarray while Sutpen is away at war. Argos/House of Atreus is in a similar situation while Agamemnon is away at Troy. In this chapter, Faulkner mentions that "the house itself spoke". Sutpen's Hundred and the house is now its own character, much like the chorus in The Agamemnon (Argos/House of Atreus). I've enjoyed this series on Absalom, Absalom! immensely, and I'm going to hate to see it come to an end. Great job as always, guys!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Mmmmm, love the "house itself spoke" interpretation with that. I have the Everyman's copy of Oresteia. I need to sneak away and finish that some day as I really have enjoyed some of these views you've shared. What an incredible story to be able to speak to these stories of the South, Greek Culture, Bible... really mind-blowing...

[@raskass2106]

Love Faulkners writing. Definitely would be challenging w/o you guys

[@baghilog77]

Hats off from Pakistan and literary lovers.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Cheers

[@southerncountryboy8]

What sentence in this section do we learn that Charles is Sutpen's son? I somehow completely missed that in my initial readthrough of this section.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I can say I wrote that down. I’ll have to post about it when I return to it

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

The next time my husband fusses because I repeat myself, I’m just going to yell “I AM WRITING HISTORY!” I also think his repetitive writing helps to get the point across and sometimes saying the same thing different ways will help more people understand. Not sure if that makes sense, not all folks learn things the same way. You may say to me, this is how you do something and I don’t get it. You back up, rephrase it differently and suddenly I understand. I haven’t read any of this type of literature since high school and college, but I swear ya’ll are about to make me pick it back up! I’m sitting over here wondering if I can get hold of a copy and read through chapter 8 before the next upload.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Yeah, different people learn different ways for sure. Well, we're technically about to do If It Bleeds together :) I need to create a William Faulkner recommended reading order someday. I still have more to read first though!

[@lostinabookcase3796]

"On the CodeX Cantinaaaaaaa!" Can we get that as a permanent intro jingle?? XD

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Sure can

[@jonahsavage4492]

Great analysis, but there should be a disclaimer that a major plot point (that is not revealed to the reader until after chapter 6) is spoiled in this video!

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I’ll write something up and pin it

[@SpenelliSpeaks]

Excellent breakdown. I wish I had read this before to offer some insight here. I did thoroughly enjoy watching this discussion. I think about the "courting" of yesteryear... I'm reading Emma right now and marriage proposals are written through letters as well. So anticlimactic! Then again, I suppose if it was the norm it would have been pretty exciting. You two are pretty impressive. Thanks for this! ::)) Dani

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Spenelli Speaks You and Krypto have some great points there. I’d have to become a poet if that’s how things still ran

[@bitsoflit]

I almost quit after chapter 6. But I’m stubborn and wasn’t going to let Faulkner beat me, dammit! It both made me want to read more of his work and absolutely never read this book again. Maybe one day. Is this the group of chapters that implies Henry and Charles channeled their sort of love for each other through Judith? Or was that chapter 4 with the metamorphoses? Also the longest godless sentence of all time. Italics = godless.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

I doubt you're alone. I agree that looking at the novel as a whole that the 4-6 stretch is the most difficult. I forgot to say something on that long sentence when recording this. You'd think it would be particularly poignant or really key for the chapter/book. Not to say it was worthless but if you're going for the longest sentence ever you'd think you'd make it a zinger. The Ol' Miss conjecture from Mr. Compson on the two being fond of each other and expressing it via Judith is Chapter 4.

[@bitsoflit]

The CodeX Cantina I’m reading through East of Eden by John Steinbeck right now and it is interesting to see the parallels between these two. It is complex but far, FAR easier to read, and doesn’t necessarily tackle as many issues, but there is a through line of sins of the father coming through and passing through the lineage as the new generations commit their own sins. Far less ugly truths being poked at but just interesting to see how different Nobel laureates from America tackle a similar theme!

[@nicholasmaxwell9899]

@@bitsoflit I wasn't very impressed with East of Eden. I enjoyed it and parts of it were really good, but I felt like some of it read like a children's book. Some of the characters weren't very well written either in my opinion. I am finding it hard to go back to Steinbeck, but maybe I should try Grapes of Wrath.

[@audreydaleski1067]

Yes, Charles is his son.

[@joshiahayash]

Nowhere in chapter 6 (nor before it) is it revealed that Charles is Sutpen's son. What a bizarre thing to discuss here. I can only assume Krypto didn't realize it but Una spoke as if it had been revealed already and Krypto just went along with it and assumed he missed something.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Sorry, it's been a while. I can see the opening part we are referring to that. Maybe I can edit that out and reupload. Are there other parts in the chat as well or was it mainly that intro?

[@darthhandsome8343]

@@TheCodeXCantina I didnt catch the Bon revelation either though I did find something of a hint that may be alluding to it that does indeed follow a sentence regarding the insult as you say. But I will declare right now what the most confusing part of Absolom Absolom is: having read Sound & Fury before this one, how did Quentin ever manage to stop thinking about Caddy long enough to become invested in Sutpens story lololol???

[@QuestLegacy]

Is Absalom, Absolum! a PNW story secretly....?

[@TheCodeXCantina]

PYT

[@audreydaleski1067]

Octoroon

[@namles1644]

Did Clytie stay because she had nowhere else to go and no life experience to allow her to move on?

[@namles1644]

Does Henry becoming a devoted follower, even dressing similar to Charles, support the idea of Charles as Jesus?

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Some would take that interpretation. Some didn't move on just out of just fear of change.

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Sure.

[@audreydaleski1067]

King David.

[@bighardbooks770]

Least them itals aint in color 😮🎉😂

[@TheCodeXCantina]

🤣

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

This was incredible. You guys do so well in your breakdowns I am always in awe

[@TheCodeXCantina]

Everyone who reads it must Converse You speak too highly. June 16th... it’s coming....

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

@@TheCodeXCantina oh, that is going to be lots of fun even before... Cool us booktubers interacting