Predatory Men in William Faulkner’s Novel, Sanctuary Essay

Predatory Men in William Faulkner’s Novel, Sanctuary William Faulkner’s novel, Sanctuary, is replete with subtlety and symbolism. En route to Old Frenchman’s Place, Temple Drake thinks of baseball players in the Saturday game she is missing as â€Å"crouching, uttering short, yelping cries like marsh-fowl disturbed by an alligator, not certain of where the danger is, motionless, poised† (37). In creating such an image of predation, Faulkner prepares the reader for Temple’s arrival at Old Frenchman’s Place —the prey/predator metaphor lending itself perfectly to Temple’s situation vis-à  -vis the men there. Throughout the novel, Faulkner portrays Temple as feline or animal-like. When she objects to Gowan Stevens driving to Lee Goodwin’s in†¦show more content†¦Popeye is characterized as unnatural, his features being likened to inanimate objects. He is described as having â€Å"that vicious depthless quality of stamped tin† (4), his eyes are compared to â€Å"two knobs of soft black rubber† (4), and his posture is described as making him resemble â€Å"a modernist lampstand† (7). Popeye dislikes and fears nature, preferring to take the long way rather than walk through the woods at night, and being frightened by owls and dogs (7, 19). His aversion for nature underscores the threat his already menacing behavior poses to the vulnerable, animal-like Temple and to Tommy. Tommy, who can walk through the sand with the ease of a mule (20) and â€Å"when necessary†¦move with that thick, lightning-like celerity of badgers or coons† (71), is, like Temple, described in terms of nature and as having animal-like characteristics. This similarity may explain her relative comfort around him and her inclination to seek him at the dinner table (64). Despite his â€Å"naturalness† however, Tommy is not necessarily an exception to Faulkner’s characterization of the men in Sanctuary as predatory. Tommy is seemingly concerned for Temple’s well-being, but his behavior hints that there may be more to his concern for her than pure kindness. â€Å"His body began to writhe again in shocked indecision†¦his hands wringing slowly against his flanks†¦from time to time he