Abstract

As Faulkner, the writer of this novel, eagers to expose the social problems in the Southern society, this paper seeks to explore the social cause of Emily’s tragedy by analyzing the attitudes and behavior of her relatives and townspeople, in which the problems in the Southern society are to be revealed.

Through the observation of people’s behavior and the review of early researches, it has been demonstrated three social problems in the old South: fogyish moral values, hypocrisy and the impotence of government. 

As for Fogyish moral values, Emily’s family hold patriarchal and aristocratism values and prevent Emily from true love. Aristocratism of townspeople proceeds to restrain Emily’s nature. In terms of hypocrisy, the townspeople and Homer speciously help Emily but actually hurt her. What’s more, the impotence of government further alienated Emily from the society.

This article finds out various social problems in the Southern society which lead Emily to a tragic end.

Keywords: social causes; tragic fate; fogyish moral values; hypocrisy; governmental impotence

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. Fogyish moral values-3

2.1 Patriarchy-3

2.1 Aristocratism-3

3. Hypocrisy-6

4. The impotence of government-8

4.1 The impotence of old government-8

4.2 The impotence of modern government-8

5. Conclusion-10

References-11