Absalom, Absalom, William Faulkner

It was Faulkner's opinion that the south is doomed to damnation by God in retribution for the sin and excesses of slavery - and by extension the continued bigotry executed against the black man in the Deep South. The horrid depths of depravity sunk to in the novel evidence the justification of that verdict. Having lived in the Deep South for five years myself, I take the message to heart in a way that no white northerner normally could imagine. Because below the superficial hospitality and good manners lurks an evil and vile perspective that is dominant - even today - in many circles. Privately held. Unspokenly enforced. Personal and purposeful in implementation. Absolutely worthy of condemnation by God and man. Faulkner bends and twists the plot and story line into nearly indecipherable format - exactly the way reality exists. The reader must work to understand perspective and story line - but Faulkner in the end makes it all worthwhile. I commend Faulkner posthumously for his work to right a horrible wrong with the second most mighty power available from man - the righteous word.