Light in August Essay

Violently employed, religion sallies forth the souls and lives of the Deep South. Consequently, â€Å"the weight of God’s wrath, according to the Bible, becomes white men’s ‘burden’ to carry [†¦]† (Bush 1). Bible Revealed through myriad characters, Light in August not only proves that Southerners inculcate their practice of religion but also engender religious brutality. Presented through Reverend Hightower, Doc Hines, and Mr. McEachern, Light in August establishes distinctive notions of faith. Reverend Hightower â€Å"believed with a calm joy that if ever there was a shelter, it would be the Church; that if ever the truth could walk naked and without shame or fear, it would be the seminary† (Faulkner 478). Diverging from Hightower, Mr. McEachern, viciously pious, believes that â€Å"the two virtues are a work and fear of God† (Faulkner 144). Blinded by his own version of religious life is Mr. Hines. Through lives of these characters, religious views with power from the Bible are evident. The initial moment Mr. McEachern adopts Joe Christmas, he emphasizes the significance of religion. In a serious manner, while introducing himself he avers, â€Å"†¦I will have you learn soon that the two abominations are sloth and idle thinking, the two virtues are work and the fear of God† (Faulkner 144). From a failure to memorize the â€Å"Presbyterian catechism,† Joe receives routine whippings from Mr. McEachern merely at the age of eight. (Faulkner 147). Habitual whippings â€Å"desensitized† Joe towards pain and violence; as a result, receiving them did not have an effect of him. (Faulkner 149). Using violence to teach religion, Mr.  McEachern employs two opposite methods which alter Joe’s mentality. Because the punishment and pain he receives from McEachern, he refuses to learn anything religious; consequently, Joe sees religion as pain. Without reservation, the single answer to this young boy’s incapability to memorize is severe punishment. â€Å"He believes that his job was to teach Joe his religion even if it meant by force, hence, his means to achieve this goal was relentless physical punishment. † (Bush 2) His own inability â€Å"to do God’s work† is his own failure as well, which tremendously frustrates him. This brutal implementation causes Joe to see Mr. McEachern and â€Å"His† religion as antagonists. Moreover, one night as Joe returns home accompanied by a number of bruises and marks, Mr. McEachern asks if Joe left a mark on the person he fought with. He does not ask who he is fighting with or why he is fighting; therefore, this proves to Joe that violence is tolerable. With his pants around his knees while McEachern sadistically beats him ten strokes per whipping, Joe ‘did not flinch. ’ The boy stares outward ‘with a rapt, calm expression like a monk’ (Faulkner 149). The scene demonstrates how a young child is taught, through brutal religious fanaticism, [†¦], he is nothing more than an animal: ‘Joe rose from the bed and went and knelt in the corner [†¦ ] above the outraged food kneeling, with his hands he ate, like a savage, like a dog. ’ (Bush 1) Faulkner produces characters that illustrate a failure to amend. Joe still receives that same punishment at the age of eighteen as he did when he was eight. Out of fear, Joe lies to Mr. McEachern about selling the heifer just to save himself from physical punishment; however, treating him as if he’s still young, Mr.  McEachern strikes Joe after discovering his lie. Present, Faulkner suggests a yearning of vengeance in Joe as he asserts, â€Å"Don’t you hit me again† (Faulkner 164-5). The last time Mr. McEachern attempts to strike Joe steers him to his death. Despite teaching Joe the peace, love and joy of religion, McEachern forcefully teaches Joe his own extreme vision of religion, the dark side. As a result, McEachern fails; he also lessens Joe’s feelings and emotions. Inherently, Joe inherits violence through the lessons of Mr. McEachern.