Faulkner's "The Unvanquished" Though Faulkner's The Unvanquished is set during the Civil War, another war is being fought simultaneously. This second war is not one of guns and thievery, but one of beliefs. It is a conflict between two philosophies: idealism and pragmatism. This war rages on throughout the novel, but is decided by one event: Bayard's decision not to avenge his father's death. An idealist is one who is guided by ideals, especially one that places ideals before practical considerations. Life in Yoknapatawpha was idealistic, as was life everywhere in the South at the time. The Southern Code was