Requiem for a Nun (play)

Requiem for a Nun is a play in three acts written by William Faulkner, published in 1951. Although it is often considered a sequel to his 1929 novel The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner himself clarified its status as a play, not simply a dramatization of a novel. The play utilizes a hybrid form, blending dramatic dialogue with prose narrative sections.

The narrative revisits characters from The Sound and the Fury, particularly Temple Drake Stevens, now a married woman with children living in Jefferson, Mississippi. The central conflict revolves around Nancy Mannigoe, a Black woman and former prostitute who serves as the Stevens' maid and who murders Temple's infant child.

The three acts are titled "The Courthouse (A Justice)," "The Jail (A Conviction)," and "The Jail (A Condemnation)." Each act begins with a lengthy prose section that provides historical and contextual background, often delving into the history of the buildings and the town itself. These sections, narrated in a detached and almost omniscient voice, contrast sharply with the intimate and emotionally charged dialogue of the dramatic scenes.

The play explores themes of guilt, innocence, redemption, sin, and the complexities of Southern justice. Nancy Mannigoe's motivations for killing the child are ambiguous and multifaceted, prompting questions about her sanity, her religious beliefs, and the societal pressures that have shaped her life. The play delves into the psychological turmoil of Temple Drake Stevens, forcing her to confront her past and grapple with the consequences of her previous actions. Ultimately, Requiem for a Nun is a complex and challenging work that grapples with the moral ambiguities of human behavior and the enduring legacy of the past.