Light of August by William Faulkner Light of August, a novel written by the well-known author William Faulkner, can definitely be interpreted in many ways. However, a fairly obvious perspective is through a religious point of view. It is difficult, almost impossible, to interpret the Light in August without noticing the Christian parallels. Faulkner gives us proof that a Christian symbolic interpretation is valid. Some facts of these parallels are inevitable and there are many indications for this idea. For example, there is Joe Christmas, one of the main characters in the novel. His initials are JC, which may be an acronym for the name Jesus Christ. There is also the fact of his uncertain paternity and his appearance at the orphanage on Christmas Day. Joe is about thirty-three years old at the time of the lynching; This event is set up throughout Light in August by Faulkner's constant use of the word crucifixion. Furthermore, there are many other compelling Christian symbolisms that appear to have led readers to believe that William Faulkner arranged his events and directed his themes parallel to the twenty-one chapters of the Gospel of St. John. These religious symbols, however, distance themselves from the text of Light in August and seek to unify the novel only through biblical allusions. They attempt to answer questions about how Light in August functions as a literary work while avoiding the novel itself. For this reason, each of them fails to represent an exact interpretation of the novel. However, the Christian parallels cannot be ignored and must function for some firm purpose in this novel. If Light in August has enough corresponding surfaces to justify the claim of a direct parallel in both theme and action with the Gospel of John, then where is the? crucifix, the most important symbol of Christianity? This significant tool should be present in a book of such religious importance. The important symbol, however, has not been left out; they were distorted only to a certain extent. Faulkner may have provided a clue as to how he distorted the crucifix. For example, images of wood are relevant in this case. There are several lumber mills: Doane's Mill and then the planing mill at Jefferson. Lena asks Byron Bunch, "Is there another planer?" Byron replies, “No, ma'am. But there are some really smart sawmills." Faulkner may have alerted his audience... middle of paper... not part of the Christmas "wooden world", now traveling with a furniture repairman. Typically, Lena's narrative does not call attention to poles or stakes of any kind. It is only after Christmas is over that Lena notices the cross-shaped images. This would seem to suggest not only that she is perhaps a figure of the Virgin Mary carrying within her a figure of Christ, but also that she herself is the resurrected “life” after the crucifixion of Christ (Christmas). It seems highly possible that, in a novel that distorts the Crucifix, the process of Christ's death and resurrection might also be distorted. Ironically, however, Lena exists at the same time as Christmas, but never encounters him because in the context of the New Testament the resurrection only occurs after death. In turn, Lena and Natale never meet because it would be illogical for the figure of the Virgin Mary to meet her child while carrying him in her womb. All the narratives of these characters, which may appear inconsistent, are connected through the distorted image of the wooden cross. The poles and other symbols link Christmas and the Testaments together. The Light of August functions as a fluid yet structured novel, a distortion of the Gospels.