If Christmas didn't have such a history of violence then I'd also question the circumstances of Ms. Burden's death. Although, if you look at the patterns of Christmas' past, I think it would be appropriate for the reader to insinuate that Christmas did indeed stab Burden to death with a razor blade.
Actually Sierra I would have to disagree with you because even though Christmas did pull out the razor he put it down onto a table before he left, without hurting Ms. Burden, and one must also question why Brown was in the house at the time that the farmer entered. The way I see it Brown was probably trying to get revenge on Christmas because of how he was treated.
I do believe it was suicidal as well. I speculate that Ms.Burden originally intended to kill Joe then herself but while she was in the moment she changed her mind and decided to kill only herself leaving Joe alive knowing that he was good as dead in the real world. Just a possibility.
I'd have to agree with Sierra. Although the book does not clearly state that Joe Christmas killed Ms.Burden , it is evident that the reader can infer that he is the killer due to his violent history and personality.
There is no way Ms. Burden could have sliced her throat so deep, that the farmer was sure her head was going to fall off. The way I see it, she was murdered (or "slaughtered in self-defense" for Christmas). Christmas doesn't even show a stream of thought about Ms. Burden's death, but of the gun she aimed at him instead. This makes me question whether he even understood what happened to her or what he was assumed to have done. I can't find myself to settle that Christmas killed without a doubt.
I agree with Bianca. To decapitate someone requires a great amount of strength and even if she was or wasnt with her head off if would have not had the strength or supplies to do it.
While there is evidence of Ms Burden havin been suicidal, I don't believe she committed suicide. Her death was pretty morbid, and I don't think she was capable of doing causing it herself. As for Joe Brown, I don't see any legitimate reason for him killing Ms Burden. The two did not have any relation and he didn't have a motive to kill her, besides getting revenge on Christmas. But I don't believe Brown would have killed her to get revenge on Christmas. All the evidence points to Christmas being the killer of Ms Burden. As we know, he has an extremely violent character and he has killed somebody before in a rash instant. He is the type of person who lets his anger control him, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did kill her. Also, he never tries to deny killing her, he just goes straight into hiding. So, I do believe Christmas did kill Ms Burden.
Even if Christmas did have a violent streak we cannot automatically assume that he was the one that killed Ms. Burden. Faulkner probably used his violent past to trick the reader into creating assumptions on a biased perspective and therefore cause us to ignore all the facts that were presented to us.
To answer your question Mrs. Ross, I believe that Faulkner did this in order to make the audience think and see if the audience is just like the towns people or sympathizes with Christmas.
If Christmas didn't have such a history of violence then I'd also question the circumstances of Ms. Burden's death. Although, if you look at the patterns of Christmas' past, I think it would be appropriate for the reader to insinuate that Christmas did indeed stab Burden to death with a razor blade.
ReplyDeleteActually Sierra I would have to disagree with you because even though Christmas did pull out the razor he put it down onto a table before he left, without hurting Ms. Burden, and one must also question why Brown was in the house at the time that the farmer entered. The way I see it Brown was probably trying to get revenge on Christmas because of how he was treated.
DeleteI agree with Brian, It's also hard to say who killed her because their is no concrete evidence for either Byron or Christmas killing her.
ReplyDeleteTo add Ms. Burden was suicidal because she was going to kill Christmas and herself.
ReplyDeleteI do believe it was suicidal as well. I speculate that Ms.Burden originally intended to kill Joe then herself but while she was in the moment she changed her mind and decided to kill only herself leaving Joe alive knowing that he was good as dead in the real world. Just a possibility.
DeleteI'd have to agree with Sierra. Although the book does not clearly state that Joe Christmas killed Ms.Burden , it is evident that the reader can infer that he is the killer due to his violent history and personality.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way Ms. Burden could have sliced her throat so deep, that the farmer was sure her head was going to fall off. The way I see it, she was murdered (or "slaughtered in self-defense" for Christmas).
ReplyDeleteChristmas doesn't even show a stream of thought about Ms. Burden's death, but of the gun she aimed at him instead. This makes me question whether he even understood what happened to her or what he was assumed to have done. I can't find myself to settle that Christmas killed without a doubt.
I agree with Bianca. To decapitate someone requires a great amount of strength and even if she was or wasnt with her head off if would have not had the strength or supplies to do it.
DeleteWhile there is evidence of Ms Burden havin been suicidal, I don't believe she committed suicide. Her death was pretty morbid, and I don't think she was capable of doing causing it herself.
ReplyDeleteAs for Joe Brown, I don't see any legitimate reason for him killing Ms Burden. The two did not have any relation and he didn't have a motive to kill her, besides getting revenge on Christmas. But I don't believe Brown would have killed her to get revenge on Christmas.
All the evidence points to Christmas being the killer of Ms Burden. As we know, he has an extremely violent character and he has killed somebody before in a rash instant. He is the type of person who lets his anger control him, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did kill her. Also, he never tries to deny killing her, he just goes straight into hiding. So, I do believe Christmas did kill Ms Burden.
Even if Christmas did have a violent streak we cannot automatically assume that he was the one that killed Ms. Burden. Faulkner probably used his violent past to trick the reader into creating assumptions on a biased perspective and therefore cause us to ignore all the facts that were presented to us.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that Faulkner would leave this important scene out of the novel. Why do you think he did this?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Mrs. Ross, I believe that Faulkner did this in order to make the audience think and see if the audience is just like the towns people or sympathizes with Christmas.
ReplyDelete