Files
Abstract
Many critics have noted the indirect, ambiguous, complex nature of language in William Faulkners That Evening Sun. In order to demonstrate Faulkners linguistic indirectness in That Evening Sun, this analysis will consider some of the important Faulkner texts published around the time of the short story, namely The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, and Sanctuary. These novels, much like the short story, demonstrate Faulkners preoccupation with languages ability to construct meaning. That Evening Sun is divided into six scenes that unfold much like a play, and each scene demonstrates the linguistic ambiguities at stake. The various devices of language employedidioms, puns, and passive voice constructionsheighten the sense of ambiguity. Ultimately, the storys linguistic complexities foreshadow and enhance the demise of the storys protagonist, Nancy.