"Absalom, Absalom!" is a novel by William Faulkner that explores the complexities of the American South prior to the Civil War. The story focuses on the life of Thomas Sutpen, a man driven by his ambition to create a grand plantation and a legacy of wealth and power. His relentless pursuit leads to personal and familial tragedies, affecting his relationships with his wife and children, who become entangled in his grandiose dreams and the societal expectations of their time.
The narrative is told through multiple perspectives, revealing the differing perceptions of Sutpen and his actions. Faulkner employs a non-linear storytelling technique, which invites readers to piece together the harrowing history of Sutpen's family and the town of Jefferson, Mississippi. Themes of race, class, and the consequences of ambition are prevalent throughout, examining the moral decay underlying the South’s romanticized vision.