Dry September by William Faulkner

In Dry September by William Faulkner we have the theme of gossip, rumour, reliability, repression, justice, hypocrisy and prejudice. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and very early on in the story the reader realises that Faulkner is exploring what is commonly referred to as the White Goddess concept. This is a concept in whereby the Southern male believes that a woman, particularly a white Southern woman cannot tell a lie. In essence they are to be held up on a pedestal and everything they say is to be believed, without any need for proof. It is through this concept that the story develops, Faulkner highlighting to the reader the willingness of the men of Jefferson, particularly John McLendon, to believe Minnie Cooper and form a lynch mob to kill Will Mayes.

It is also at the beginning of the story that Faulkner explores the theme of gossip and rumour. With the exception of Henry Hawkshaw (the barber) each man in the barber shop believes the rumour that Will Mayes has raped Minnie Cooper. Hawkshaw is an important character in the story because he represents reasoning. Of all the men, he appears to be the one who is prepared to give Will Mayes the benefit of the doubt. Faulkner may also be suggesting, through Hawkshaw, that the hierarchical system in the South (black people beginning at the bottom of it) may also need to be looked at. Rather than focusing on Will Mayes, the focus, at least through Hawkshaw’s eyes needs to be on the veracity of what Minnie Cooper has said about Will Mayes. It is also interesting that one of the men, who remains unnamed but who the reader is aware is not from Jefferson tells the other men that ‘I’m with him (McLendon). I don’t live here, but by God, if our mothers and wives and sisters…’ This may be significant as by introducing a character who is not from Jefferson but who agrees with McLendon, Faulkner may be suggesting that throughout the South there is a belief of the White Goddess concept.

The theme of justice or rather the lack of it is also explored in the story. By organising a lynch mob, McLendon is taking the law into his own hands and dispensing what he considers to be justice (killing Will Mayes). There is no sign of a trial or a presumption of innocence or investigation into what has happened, rather instead the men in the barber shop, along with McLendon, dispense a justice that they deem appropriate. Again this sense of justice is based on prejudice. Will is guilty simply because Minnie Cooper has suggested that he raped her and like other black people at the time the story was written, he would be considered to be at the bottom of the hierarchical system that was predominant in the South.

Faulkner also continues to explore the theme of gossip in section four of the story when the reader learns that Minnie Cooper’s friends appear to be more concerned about hearing all the details about what has happened Minnie rather than showing any genuine concern for her well-being. It is also interesting that Minnie appears to suffer a breakdown while she is in the movie theatre. Perhaps the reality of what she has done (lied about Will Mayes) has become too much for her. It would appear that Minnie’s main difficulty is that she is sexually repressed and by lying about Will Mayes raping her she has succeeded in people showing an interest in her again, however it is at the expense of Will Maye’s life. It would also appear that none of Minnie’s friends really believe that she has been raped. Just as Henry Hawkshaw doubted it, so too do Minnie’s friends.

Faulkner also appears to be using symbolism in the story, particularly the weather. In the first section of the story, Faulkner uses the word ‘dead’ to describe the air. This is significant as it in some ways acts as foreshadowing to what will happen Will Mayes later in the story. The opening line of the story also acts as foreshadowing to the eventual killing of Will Mayes, Faulkner using the word ‘bloody’ to describe the September twilight. Also in section three of the story Faulkner again describes the air, though this time uses the word ‘lifeless.’ He also describes the day as having ‘died in a pall of dust.’ This may be significant as Faulkner could be suggesting that the residents of Jefferson, particularly McLendon and the lynch mob are morally dead, by taking the law into their own hands.

Other notable symbolism in the story may include McLendon’s gun. It not only can be seen as a symbol of violence but it can be seen to represent violence in the past, present (possibly) and future. It is first introduced when McLendon walks into the barber shop, the reader learning that McLendon was a soldier in WWI (past violence). It is assumed the McLendon uses the gun to kill Will Mayes in section three of the story, which would suggest violence in the present and at the end of the story, McLendon puts the gun down on the table in his bedroom, which would suggest that it is to be used again, sometime in the future.

The ending of the story is also significant as it is through McLendon’s interaction with his wife that Faulkner appears to be introducing irony into the story. Will Mayes has been killed by McLendon in order to preserve Minnie Cooper’s integrity and honour. However McLendon strikes out at his own wife when he returns home from the killing. It would appear that there is one rule for McLendon and one for Will Mayes (and other black people). At no stage does the reader suspect that McLendon respects his wife in any way, if anything there is a sense that McLendon’s violence against his wife may be a daily occurrence. Unlike Minnie Cooper who McLendon has held up on a pedestal, even though she has lied about what has happened her, McLendon’s wife is not afforded the same luxury. In many ways McLendon, who has acted as the authority figure throughout the story, is a hypocrite.

See Also:

• Two Soldiers by William Faulkner
• Mountain Victory by William Faulkner
• Barn Burning by William Faulkner
• Red Leaves by William Faulkner