Byron Bunch finds hope with Lena by his side Essays -

Byron Bunch found hope with Lena by his side. Byron Bunch, one of the most important characters of Light in August, a novel by William Faulkner, is the hard working man, working six times per week, and then directing the choir of the rural church. He had chosen to make a monotonous life, without taking any risks until the day Lena Grove comes in Jefferson. Byron Bunch finally decides to take a risk in his life. Hightower , who knows Byron for years, does not believe him when he talks about taking a risk. For the first time since they know each other, Hightower hears Byron talk about doing something of his own and showing confidence. ?No,? Byron says. Then he moves slightly; he speaks as if he too were walking: ?I hope not. I reckon I am trying to do the right thing by my own lights.?- ?And that,? Hightower thinks, ?is the first lie he ever told me. Ever told anyone, man or woman, perhaps including himself.? He looks across the desk at the stubborn, dogged, sober face that has not yet looked at him. ?Or maybe it is not lie yet because he does not know himself that it is so.? Byron Bunch puts his self in the middle of a tunnel, with a heavy burden on his shoulders; but this time he expresses belief in himself, he knows he can make it. The instinct of helping someone else who he suddenly feels a special feeling for, appears in his heart and mind. He decides to help a pregnant woman who has come into town to find the father of her child because he feels special about her. He knows he is doing the right thing. Byron Bunch loves Lena because he is trying to make her happy by all ways, even though he has to leave his feelings aside. First, he gives her shelter and then he makes his best to help her find the father of her child. ?I come to find out when you want to see him? and I said ?See who and he said ?They may have to send a deputy with him but I can persuade Kennedy to let him come? and I said ?Let who come and he said ?Lucas Burch? and I said ?Yes? and he went away. He just stood there and he went away. The last sentence shows how Bunch does not want to make the step, but he has to; he has to talk to the sheriff, make Lena and Lucas Burch meet together. The idea of Lena being with the father of her child, the person she has done all this long way for, does not make him feel good. Byron has feelings for her; but his spiritual nobility help him leave his feelings aside and think about Lena, think about her happiness. Byron asks permission to the sheriff to let Joe Brown see his wife and the newborn baby. ?I see,? the sheriff said. ?You think the time has come to get them married.? ?I don?t know. That?s his business and hers. I reckon now is the time for that.? The way he talks to the sheriff, with short phrases, show that he is talking about a decision that he has already taken, that he had to take even though he does not like it. Byron witnesses his self reborn, recognizing his past life deficiencies, ready to start a new life with Lena by his side. ?You?ve done throwed away what I aint had in thirtyfive years.? This is what he says to Lucas Birch before they fight. Byron fights a big man that can beat him easily. He knows that but he wants to show himself that he is another person now, who can take risks and take advantage of the chances given to him. He decides to fight the man who has caused so much pain to the woman he loves. At the same time he wants to make the old Byron Bunch die, away from his soul once forever. It lasted less than two minutes. Then Byron was lying quietly among the broken and trampled undergrowth, bleeding quietly about the face, hearing the underbrush crashing on, ceasing, fading into silence. Then