The Importance of Family Tradition in the Film, William Faulkner: A Life on Paper :: Movie Film Essays

The Importance of Family Tradition in the Film, William Faulkner A sprightliness on PaperWilliam Faulkners flavor was defined by his unfitness to conduct himself as a true Southern gentleman. He neer achieved affluence, strength, chivalry or honor. Therefore, the myth of Southern masculinity eluded him. Faulkner shied away from violence, he never proved himself in battle. He was not a punishing worker, nor was he an excellent family man. Seemingly worst of all, he did not descend in the footsteps of his father and the Old Colonel. The code of Southern gentility extremely praises family tradition. As a born and bred Southerner I can attest to this fact. every(prenominal) man in my family for ten generations has been a plumber. It is the utmost honor for a man to follow his fathers example. Faulkner, unfortunately, was incapable of really backup like his father. Therefore, I believe Faulkners collective failures are root in the fact that he could not live up to the standards re dact by the men in his family.Faulkners father and great grandpa could be described as the embodiment of Southern masculinity. The video A Life on Paper made it clear that the Faulkner men were male men. The Old Colonel was remembered as a valiant war hero and a wonderful storyteller. Williams father continued perfectly in his footsteps. He had an intense work ethic and he served in the military. He provided for his family and he never turned down a good fight. Together they jell the mold for the perfect Southern man, a role that William could never desire to fulfill.William did, however, possess the unquenchable pride of a Southern man. He recognise the importance of proving himself to his father. So he spent his time emulating the man he admired. He tried to construct a normal family life save he was self- centered and irresponsible. His lack of steady income prevented him from being a provider like his father. Perhaps worst of all, Faulkner missed an important rite of tran sportation by being denied war experience. The writer never actively participated in battle, so he constructed an elaborate web of lies and vivid stories. This event highlights Faulkners own intense determination to reach the Southern ideal. Since he couldnt really be a war hero, he fabricated himself into one. This clamber proved extremely difficult for Faulkner. Upon reading Faulkners The Unvanquished, I pull a parallel between Drusillas commentary on life and Faulkners own pursuit of masculinity (100).