The Agony and the Sweat by William Faulkner

You’re probably unaware that ‘The Agony and the Sweat’ isn’t a specific piece penned by the literary giant, William Faulkner. Instead, it’s a phrase borrowed from his powerful Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1950, where he passionately articulated his belief in the human spirit’s endurance and triumph.

Through his speech, he emphasized the necessity for writers to depict universal truths and provoke timeless emotions – love, honor, pride, compassion, in their works.

As we embark on this journey to explore the depth of his words, we’ll grapple with the question: How does Faulkner’s profound perspective influence the way literature is approached, authored, and appreciated?

The answer to this question lies ahead, waiting for us to uncover it.

Background

William Faulkner delivered his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, known as “The Agony and the Sweat,” in December 1950, upon receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature. In his address, Faulkner confronted the existential despair and fear stemming from the post-World War II era, emphasizing the writer’s duty to transcend the contemporary obsession with pessimism and destruction.

Faulkner argued that the role of the artist, specifically the writer, is to delve into the human spirit’s capacity for courage, honor, hope, pride, compassion, and sacrifice. He articulated a vision for literature that reconnects humanity with its fundamental values, advocating for a focus on the timeless struggles of the human heart rather than transient technological fears. His speech called upon writers to remember their responsibility to write not merely about the fear of death but about what makes life worth living.

“The Agony and the Sweat” speech is celebrated for its profound insight into the purpose of writing and the enduring power of the human spirit. Faulkner’s words continue to inspire writers and artists to explore the depths of human emotion and resilience, asserting the necessity of art that uplifts and enlightens amidst the darkest of times.

Key Takeaways

Here are 4 key key takeaways from William Faulkner’s ‘The Agony and the Sweat’ that delve into the depths of human endurance, the essence of storytelling, and the relentless pursuit of artistic truth:

• Faulkner’s unique narrative style disregards traditional literary rules and explores the psychological depths of characters.
• The story highlights the enduring power of human expression and emphasizes the conflicts within the human heart.
• It advocates for capturing the essence of humanity, symbolizes the struggle of human existence, and embodies hope and resilience.
• The story explores themes of courage, honor, hope, pride, compassion, and sacrifice, while also emphasizing the importance of love and honor.

Story

Join us in unraveling Faulkner’s vision, as presented in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, which offers a profound perspective on the resilience of the human heart and the indispensable role of storytelling in navigating the tapestry of life:

Exploring Faulkner’s Unique Narrative Style

Delving into Faulkner’s unique narrative style, you’ll find an innovative approach that disregards traditional literary rules, boldly exploring the psychological depths of his characters and spotlighting the enduring power of human expression. This style is evident in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, where Faulkner emphasizes the importance of delving into conflicts within the human heart.

In his address, Faulkner rejects the idea of the end of man, expressing optimism about the human spirit, something he believes is enduring and powerful. His speech, like his writing, showcases a deep appreciation for the ‘agony and sweat’ involved in the creative process. He dismisses shallow writing, advocating instead for work that captures the essence of humanity, the ‘old verities and truths.’

Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance speech underscores his belief that writers should inspire and uplift readers, depicting courage, honor, hope, pride, compassion, and sacrifice. This duty, he argues, is what can ‘make good writing.’

Symbolism in ‘The Agony and the Sweat’

Often, in ‘The Agony and the Sweat’, Faulkner uses symbolism to delve deeper into the human spirit, exploring themes of courage, honor, hope, pride, compassion, and sacrifice in a manner that’s both engaging and thought-provoking. As you peel back layers of the narrative, you’ll notice the depth of Faulkner’s symbolism. It’s a tool he uses to express the sweat of the human heart in conflict, the truths of the heart that ultimately define us.

Three key symbols stand out:

1. The ‘agony and the sweat’ symbolizes the struggle of human existence, a testament to Faulkner’s belief that life is worth the agony.
2. ‘Write about these things’ serves as a directive for young writers to focus on the human spirit rather than superficial subjects.
3. The ‘young man’ embodies hope and resilience, representing the enduring power of the human spirit.

Themes and Motifs Analysis

Peering into the core of ‘The Agony and the Sweat’, you’ll find Faulkner meticulously weaving intricate themes and motifs that underscore the complexities of human nature and the resilience of the human spirit.

1. Man as Immortal: Alone among creatures, he believed man is immortal simply because he’s a soul that can understand, feel, and create. Faulkner, the Nobel Prize laureate, firmly rejected the idea of man as a ‘worthless rock hanging tideless in space.’
2. Power of Goodness and Compassion: He emphasized that man alone can make good out of the ‘general and universal physical fear,’ through compassion and sacrifice.
3. Love and Honor: For Faulkner, these universal truths outshine the darkness of fear and despair. Love and honor, he believed, give meaning to our existence, making us more than just inhabitants of a lonely, tideless rock.

His themes underscore the importance of courage, loyalty, and bravery, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.

Learnings

In Willliam Faulkner’s ‘The Agony and the Sweat’, there are 3 key learnings. Let’s delve into these:

The Eternal Conflict

William Faulkner’s insights into storytelling underscore the timeless nature of human conflict and its central role in literature:

• The Human Heart in Conflict: Emphasizes that the most compelling narratives are those that explore the inner turmoil and dilemmas faced by individuals, reflecting the universal struggle inherent in the human condition.
• Rediscovery of Universal Truths: Advocates for writers to rediscover and communicate the core truths of human existence, thereby anchoring their stories in the profound and enduring aspects of life.
• Transcending Fear: Suggests that by focusing on themes of nobility and persistence, literature can play a pivotal role in helping society overcome fear, thereby promoting resilience and courage.

Faulkner’s perspective highlights the power of literature to delve into the depths of human emotion and experience, offering insights that resonate across cultures and epochs.

The Role of the Writer in Society

Faulkner views the writer’s role as pivotal in guiding society through moral and ethical exploration:

• Beyond Mere Entertainment: Positions the writer not just as a creator of entertainment but as a moral compass, guiding readers towards deeper understanding and compassion.
• A Call for Moral Courage: Stresses the necessity for writers to boldly confront and illuminate the fundamental values that uphold human dignity and liberty.
• Inspiring Hope and Endurance: Underscores the writer’s duty to inspire resilience and hope, empowering readers to face life’s adversities with grace and optimism.

Through this lens, the writer emerges as a crucial figure in shaping societal values and fostering a culture of empathy and ethical action.

Literature as a Beacon of Hope

Faulkner champions literature as a profound source of inspiration and a catalyst for human betterment:

• Uplifting the Human Spirit: Envisages literature as a vital force capable of elevating the human spirit, highlighting the potential for greatness and virtue amidst human imperfections.
• Affirmation of Human Endurance: Asserts the indomitable nature of the human spirit, celebrated in literature for its compassion, sacrifice, and tenacity in the face of trials.
• Legacy of Compassion and Sacrifice: Articulates the writer’s role in crafting a legacy that endures beyond their lifetime, advocating for values that nurture humanity’s continued existence and prosperity.

Faulkner’s vision of literature as a beacon of hope articulates its essential role in reminding us of our shared humanity, encouraging a legacy of compassion, and underscoring the resilience of the human spirit.

‘The Agony and the Sweat’ Speech

Ladies and gentlemen,

I feel that this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work – a life’s work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before.

So this award is only mine in trust. It will not be difficult to find a dedication for the money part of it commensurate with the purpose and significance of its origin. But I would like to do the same with the acclaim too, by using this moment as a pinnacle from which I might be listened to by the young men and women already dedicated to the same anguish and travail, among whom is already that one who will some day stand here where I am standing.

Our tragedy today is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it. There are no longer problems of the spirit. There is only the question: When will I be blown up?

Because of this, the young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat.

He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart, the old universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed – love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice. Until he does so, he labors under a curse.

He writes not of love but of lust, of defeats in which nobody loses anything of value, of victories without hope and, worst of all, without pity or compassion. His griefs grieve on no universal bones, leaving no scars. He writes not of the heart but of the glands.

Until he relearns these things, he will write as though he stood among and watched the end of man. I decline to accept the end of man. It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last dingdong of doom has clanged and faded from the last worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of his puny inexhaustible voice, still talking.

I refuse to accept this. I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things.

It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Faulkner’s use of the phrase ‘the agony and the sweat’ is a testament to his belief in the human spirit’s resilience.

Through his unique narrative style, deep emotional characters, and profound themes, he manages to evoke powerful imagery and universal truths.

His impact on American literature is undeniable, his works continually inspiring readers to explore the complexities of the human heart.

 

You can read the rest of the speech collection here:

Speech Collection