Introduction
Innocence and justice are two attributes of people in society that would be expected to result in positive outcomes, praise and honor. However, innocent people sometimes suffer, and naive individuals are exploited. In the Novel Sanctuary by William Faulkner, the vulnerability of a naive sense of justice and innocence to the ingrained evil and corruption is exemplified. Looking into the life of Temple Drake and Gowan Stevens, the novel presents insight into how initially innocent, just, and naive individuals can become corrupted by evil in society.
Temple’s Innocence and Transformation
In Sanctuary, the early life and later transformation of Temple shows how people’s innocence can be a casualty of corruption and injustice in society. Temple, an innocent girl raised in a reputable family, is depicted as a naive young woman who grew up shielded from the realities of life and the evil in society.
However, her experiences in the hands of her kidnappers shatter her naivety, awakening her to the realization of unfairness and suffering. Faulkner writes, ” Still running her bones turned to water and she fell flat on her face, still running” (Faulkner chapter 4). This reveals the shock that fell on Temple as her innocence was eroded, and she resolved to fight and survive in a highly malevolent world.
The realization that society’s moral fabric had been destroyed led Temple to uncover and challenge the rampant injustice engraved in the community. She learned that, contrary to what she had naively thought, corrupt people often go unpunished. As Temple’s perspective shifts from innocence and naivety to a struggle for justice, she learns that the world system regarding justice is highly complex, and only those who fight with understanding can overcome the brutality therein.
Gowan’s Transformation
The failure to remain firm in the face of evil is often the reason for many people’s negative transformation. Faulkner uses the life of Gowan, a renowned lawyer, to exemplify the destructive effect of corruption on morally upright individuals. Initially, Gowan is depicted as a fighter for justice, a man who believes in his duty to defend the innocent. However, as he is exposed to the pervasion in society, his perspective completely changes.
Gowan’s change is shown in his statement, “It doesn’t matter what I believe. Go on away, Horace. I ask it” (Faulkner chapter 20). One would expect that as a lawyer, Gowan would remain resilient in his fight for people’s rights and upholding justice. However, he seems to be overcome by the evil in society, and he compromises his moral and ethical duties. This statement indicates the extent to which the hunger for power, influence, and corrupt governance can change a man’s ideals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Faulkner, in his novel Sanctuary, clearly illustrates the destructive powers of injustice, corruption, and evil on a people’s innocence and morality. Faulkner uses Temple and Gowan to show that people who initially believed in justice and saw the good in others can be turned to the negative by the malevolent world in which they get entangled. Temple grew up believing that good would always triumph until the brutality of her kidnappers destroyed her innocence. Similarly, Gowan turned from an advocate for the innocent and became the opposite, no longer believing in justice. These two individuals’ principles and ideals were victims of society’s evil and corruption, to which they fell, unable to maintain their original beliefs.
Works Cited
Faulkner, William. Sanctuary. Vintage, 2011.
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