A Persecuted Name: Faulkner's Jesus And Jesus Of Nazareth

When thinking about history, most people can conjure up some knowledge about the history of Black Americans and Jesus of Nazareth. Manual labor under harsh conditions and a controlled living in society are two ideas that most people associate with the history of black slavery. It is also well known that the white, old south plays a significant part in the history of the Black American’s struggles. The name, Jesus, is often known because of his influence and fame in respects to Christianity. Thinking about Jesus also invokes ideas and feelings about Jesus’ persecution and struggles as well. That Evening Sun, by William Faulkner, calls to mind many ideas of history. By choosing a black man named Jesus for a character in That Evening Sun, Faulkner uncovers and illuminates the relationship between the White Majority of the Old South, and the Roman and Jewish majority at the time of Christ.

In the 1930’s traditional, Old South, blacks begin entering into the lives of the whites more and more; the social mentalities of the whites perceive this as less than appealing. Faulkner begins discussing the setting, the city of Jefferson, as a place where the electric

“Jesus is a nigger” definitely tells the reader exactly what and how to feel about Jesus in the story (85). Faulkner brilliantly writes this in so there is no misconception of exactly how the characters feel or perceive Jesus. The word “nigger”, when used in the old south by either blacks or whites insinuates a negative connotation right away. The word, “nigger, “is defined as, a negro;--in vulgar derision or depreciation” (http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/nigger>). The Hyper Dictionary further defines this word as an “offensive name for a Black person; ‘only a Black can call another Black a nigger.’” Not only is this a common belief that is still instilled in a modern society, but even in school systems where the professors choose to show a film, no matter the time period, they have to edit out the word “nigger” if it is used by a white man (Chambers interview). Jesus of Nazareth was not exactly held in the best light by the majority of the people during his lifetime and this would compare to the Jesus in the story and how the people viewed him as well, in less than an admirable light.

and telephone companies are taking over and cutting down the trees to make way for “iron poles bearing clusters of bloated and ghostly and bloodless grapes…” (76). By placing this metaphor at the beginning, Faulkner is insinuating that these changes, even though modern and efficient, are destructive. Cutting down trees to make way for any new technology takes away from the traditional look of any town in the 1930’s. These ideas are portrayed as a bit scary by using the negative connotation of “ghostly.” “Bloodless” suggests that there is no sustenance or life either; in this case, both “ghostly” and “bloodless” refer to the blacks in a way. Faulkner chooses to name a black man Jesus to make a point that can draw a parallel to the name of the Jesus of Nazareth. The name signifies struggle. The old, white south fear blacks in many ways; the blacks are stereotyped in the 1930’s as less than clean or righteous; Jesus of Nazareth is also confronted with this stereotype. He is feared by the Romans because of hi

Some topics in this essay:
Jesus Nazareth, Faulkner’s Jesus, Roman Jewish, Rachel Jesus, Sun Faulkner, Hyper Dictionary, Rights Movement, Jesus’ Keeping, Nazareth Manual, Aunt Rachel, jesus nazareth, faulkner’s jesus, history black, name jesus, evening sun, jesus jesus nazareth, aunt rachel, jesus story, rights movement, civil rights, black jesus, civil rights movement, faulkner’s jesus jesus, name faulkner’s jesus, evening sun faulkner,