The only wisdom to be gained in The Reivers is the wisdom that adult-Lucius drops throughout in order to make things a little more respectable. Otherwise, it's all foolishness and folly—especially where Boon is concerned. The entire adventure our characters go on is somewhat of a farce—total horseplay from start to finish. Faulkner does hit us with some pretty heavy themes, but the burlesque actions that propel the plot make those weighty themes much more palatable.
Questions About Foolishness and Folly
- How would Lucius's adventure have been different if it hadn't been so ridiculous?
- In what ways is Lucius foolish? What about Boon?
- Are all of the characters foolish to some extent?
- Is adult-Lucius at all foolish?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Grandfather Priest is the only character who does not embody foolishness.
Grandfather Priest is the most foolish of all the characters for leaving his car in the care of Boon in the first place.