Light In August Isolationism Essay

In Light in August, written by William Faulkner, there exists a great deal of isolationism amongst the characters. Whether a character is a societal outcast or simply prefers his or her own company, all the main characters tend to be loners in some way. In some cases, this detached state in which the characters live cause existential crises. Characters begin to question the meaning of their existence and feel like their lives lack both purpose and direction. One character in particularly, Percy Grimm, perfectly embodies these qualities. Although Grimm serves as a minor character in the novel, he still plays a prominent role in establishing the underlying themes of the plot throughout the text. Percy Grimm, feeling as if he lacks purpose in his life, isolates himself from the rest of the world and symbolizes all the malice and contempt of society.
First, the name “Percy Grimm” holds symbolic meaning in and
The Grim Reaper, isolated from the rest of society, basically wanders the earth, taking the lives of individuals. Faulkner carefully chooses Percy Grimm’s name to draw these parallels and imply that Grimm lives detached from the rest of the world. Like the Grim Reaper, Percy works a thankless job that inevitably causes resentment from others. Additionally, the name Grimm paints an ominous and eerie picture in the minds of readers. It only holds negative connotations that relate to loneliness and isolation. When describing Grimm, Faulkner writes, “And now, with the hysteria passed away and the ones who had been loudest in the hysteria and even the ones, the heroes who had suffered and served, beginning to look at one another a little askance, he had no one to tell it, to open his heart to” (Faulkner 450). Grimm cannot share his emotions and feelings with anyone on the earth; therefore, he lives with a cruel, exterior surface and refuses to let anyone get close to him. This aloofness with the rest