Blood Will Tell (short story)

"Blood Will Tell" is a short story by American horror writer William Faulkner, first published in Scribner's Magazine in 1930 and later included in his collection These 13.

Synopsis: The story revolves around the character of Sutpen, believed to be the illegitimate son of Thomas Sutpen from Faulkner's larger Yoknapatawpha saga, particularly Absalom, Absalom! The narrative unfolds primarily through the perspective of a local, although other characters contribute to the overall telling. Sutpen confesses to murdering his grandfather, Simon Strother, driven by a complex mixture of resentment, perceived injustice, and a need to assert his own identity and claim to the Sutpen legacy. The confession, however, is delivered in a detached and almost boastful manner, leading the townspeople to question his sanity and motivations. He's motivated to confess once another suspect has been arrested for the crime.

Themes: The story explores themes of identity, family legacy, guilt, justice, social class, and the enduring power of the past. It delves into the tangled relationships and consequences of previous generations' actions on those that follow. The burden of family history and the weight of inherited guilt are central to the narrative. The story also questions the reliability of narrative, highlighting how individual perceptions and biases shape the understanding of events.

Connection to Yoknapatawpha: "Blood Will Tell" is significant for its connection to Faulkner's fictional Yoknapatawpha County and, more specifically, the Sutpen family. Though a standalone story, it provides a further glimpse into the Sutpen legacy, expanding upon the complex history and the lasting impact of Thomas Sutpen's actions on the community and his descendants. It sheds further light on the convoluted genealogy and the unresolved tensions that permeate the Sutpen name.

Style: Faulkner's signature style is present in "Blood Will Tell," characterized by complex sentence structures, stream of consciousness narration (although less prominent than in some of his other works), and the use of multiple narrators or perspectives. The narrative relies heavily on implication and inference, leaving much unsaid and requiring the reader to piece together the full picture of events and motivations.

Criticism: Critics have examined "Blood Will Tell" for its exploration of Southern history, its portrayal of racial and social hierarchies, and its contribution to the understanding of the Sutpen saga. Some have noted the story's ambiguity and the difficulty in fully understanding Sutpen's motives, while others have focused on the psychological depth of the characters and the exploration of human nature.