The year is 1929, and the highly acclaimed modernist novel, The Sound and the Fury, is published by William Faulkner. Set in the fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, during the early 20th century, the novel follows the Compson family, once prominent and aristocratic, now on the brink of collapse.
The novel is divided into four parts, each narrated by a different character and taking place at a different time. The first part, narrated by Benjamin "Benjy" Compson, explores the events of April 7, 1928. Benjy, the intellectually disabled youngest brother, shares his memories and thoughts from various points in the past, often in a disjointed and non-linear manner due to his inability to comprehend time. On his thirty-third birthday, Benjy spends the day at a golf course with Luster, a young Black teenager, and is reminded of his beloved sister, Caddy, through various flashbacks.
The second part, narrated by Quentin Compson, the eldest sibling, takes place on June 2, 1910. Quentin, a student at Harvard University, is preparing to take his own life. He wanders the streets of Cambridge, haunted by memories of Caddy losing her virginity and becoming pregnant, leading to her troubled marriage. In a state of distress, Quentin attempts to confess his involvement in the pregnancy to his father, but is dismissed. As he walks towards the river, Quentin leaves his fate up to chance.
The third part, narrated by Jason Compson, the third sibling, takes place on April 6, 1928. Having taken over as the head of the family after their father's death, Jason is consumed with the pursuit of material wealth. He has been embezzling money from his niece, Miss Quentin, for years and has used it for his own gain. However, when he discovers Miss Quentin with a stranger, he becomes furious and confronts her and their mother at dinner.
The final section, April 8, 1928, is narrated by an omniscient third-person narrator and follows the events of the following day. The Compson family has fallen apart, with each sibling struggling with their own personal demons and obsessions. Through their perspectives, Faulkner delves into the complexities of family dynamics, memories, and the impact of time on the human mind.
The Sound and the Fury is considered a masterpiece of American literature, praised for its use of stream-of-consciousness writing and non-linear structure. It has secured a spot on Modern Library's list of the best English-language novels of the 20th century, ranking at number six. A mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel, The Sound and the Fury is a must-read for fans of Faulkner and anyone interested in exploring the depths of human experience.
It's Easter Sunday in Jefferson, Mississippi, and in Part 4 of The Sound and the Fury, the focus shifts to Dilsey Gibson, the Black cook and servant of the Compson family. As Dilsey goes about her morning chores, the household is thrown into chaos when it is discovered that Miss Quentin, Jason's niece, has run away with his money.
Enraged, Jason sets out to find his niece, while Dilsey and Luster, another servant, take Benjy, the youngest Compson child, to their church's Easter service. On their way back, Luster takes a different route, causing Benjy to panic. Jason returns without finding Miss Quentin and manages to calm Benjy by taking their usual route home. This Easter Sunday proves to be quite eventful for the Compson family.
Sixteen years after the publication of The Sound and the Fury, author William Faulkner wrote an appendix that outlines the complete history of the Compson family. This appendix, included in all later editions of the novel, begins with the arrival of the first Compson ancestor in the United States and ends with the continued disintegration of the family after the events in the novel.
The appendix reveals that after the death of Mrs. Compson, the family's matriarch, the future of the Compson name remains uncertain. Through this detailed history, Faulkner sheds light on the roots and downfall of the once-prominent Southern family. A must-read for any fan of The Sound and the Fury, the appendix provides a deeper understanding and appreciation for Faulkner's masterpiece.
The Compson family is made up of four children - Quentin, Caddy, Jason, and Benjy - and their parents, living in Jefferson, Mississippi. As the early 20th century brings change and turmoil to the South, the family struggles to hold onto their aristocratic roots, leading to their eventual downfall.
The eldest child, Quentin, is highly intelligent and attends Harvard University. However, he is troubled by his sister Caddy's promiscuity and ultimately takes his own life. Caddy, the only girl, is headstrong and independent, but is sent away after falling pregnant out of wedlock.
Jason, the third child, is a bitter and angry man, working at a farm supply store and taking over as the head of the family after his father's death. He continuously steals money from Caddy, causing tension and conflict between them. Benjy, the youngest, has an intellectual disability and was always closest to Caddy, who showed him kindness before her departure.
The Sound and the Fury takes place in Jefferson, part of the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. This setting is frequently used by Faulkner in his works, including As I Lay Dying and Light in August. Inspired by his hometown of Lafayette County, Faulkner even created a map for Yoknapatawpha County, which appears in some of his published works.
Faulkner's stories often reflect the impact of slavery on the South, and The Sound and the Fury is no exception. The novel is set during a time of great change and turmoil, as the region grapples with the aftermath of slavery and its effects.
The Sound and the Fury: A Literary Masterpiece
The title of William Faulkner's renowned novel is taken from a line spoken by Macbeth in Shakespeare's play. This theme of life's meaninglessness is prevalent throughout the story as the Compson family struggles with their destructive behaviors, stemming from their distorted interpretation of traditional Southern values.
The novel begins with the "idiot" Benjy narrating, setting the tone for the rest of the story. This unique perspective allows readers to delve deep into the characters' thoughts and emotions.
The Sound and the Fury is divided into four sections, each narrated in the first person, with an appendix providing further insight into the Compson family's decline. Faulkner expertly utilizes different narrative and stylistic techniques, adding depth and complexity to the story.
The first two sections use a non-linear and stream-of-consciousness style, reflecting the thoughts of the narrators. Part 1, narrated by Benjy, portrays events as if they are happening in the present, as Benjy has no concept of time due to his mental disability. Faulkner also uses italic text to indicate Benjy's shifting thoughts. In contrast, Part 3, narrated by Jason, follows a more conventional and linear style, reflecting his unambiguous character.
The final section introduces an omniscient, third-person narrator, focusing on Dilsey, the family's servant. This change in narrative style showcases Faulkner's mastery of different techniques.
William Faulkner is renowned for his experimentation with style, form, and structure in his works. During the Modernist era, authors pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling, including the use of stream-of-consciousness techniques. Faulkner was one of the first to extensively use this style, evident in The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying (1930).
Faulkner's masterpiece, The Sound and the Fury, offers a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the human psyche, creating a lasting impact on readers.
William Faulkner's novel, The Sound and the Fury, delves into the complexities of the Compson family and their struggle to adapt to a changing world. Through shifting perspectives and changing Southern values, the novel explores themes of family dynamics, communication, and the decline of the Old South.
Caddy, the rebellious sister, serves as a source of tension for her brothers as they navigate their unconventional relationships with her. Despite never appearing in the novel, she remains central to the plot, with Benjy grieving her absence, Quinten's obsession with her purity leading to his demise, and Jason stealing her daughter's inheritance. Even Quinten's claim of incest with Caddy displays a misguided attempt to protect her.
The Compson family, once prominent and affluent, now struggles to maintain their social standing as the South undergoes significant changes. Mrs. Compson's self-absorption prevents her from being a nurturing mother, leaving the children to be primarily raised by their family's servant, Dilsey Gibson.
In the pages of The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner expertly illustrates the decline of the once glorious Old South through the tragic story of the Compson family. Each member, from the formerly honorable Mr. Compson to the rebellious Caddy to the suicidal Quentin, exhibits self-destructive behaviors and a preoccupation with their own interests. This decline represents the larger decline of the South as the romanticized era of grand mansions and Southern belles slowly fades away.
Following the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, many aristocratic Southern families, like the Compsons, were left financially devastated. As a result, their once illustrious plantations crumbled into literal decay. Despite their previous affluence, the Compsons have let go of many traditional Southern values, mirroring the larger decline of the region.
As Mrs. Compson remarks, her family is not like "common people." However, their current state speaks differently: they have sold off most of their land, Benjy is disabled, Caddy is promiscuous, and Jason is always angry. They no longer hold their former status in the community, and their once privileged lifestyle has disappeared. Yet, they cling stubbornly to the past, unable to accept the changes in their circumstances.
Quentin, in particular, struggles with these shifting values. He desperately tries to uphold the ideals of a Southern gentleman, but constantly clashes with his sister Caddy and her disregard for traditional roles. His determination to protect her virtue ultimately leads to his own downfall, as he cannot come to terms with the crumbling of long-held Southern values.
Faulkner's use of varying stylistic choices throughout the novel highlights the inadequacy of language and communication. Each character possesses a unique voice and uses language in their own way to convey their version of reality. However, this individual subjectivity leads to conflicting accounts and an inability to truly understand one another.
By presenting the same events from multiple perspectives, Faulkner exposes the discrepancies between each character's perception of truth. This further emphasizes the limitations of language and communication in accurately conveying one's experiences and thoughts.
First published in 1929, The Sound and the Fury is a novel by William Faulkner. It is divided into four sections, each narrated by a different character and taking place at various points in time. The novel follows the Compson family, once a prominent Southern aristocracy, as they struggle to adapt to a changing world. In 1946, Faulkner added an appendix that provides a complete history of the family.
Set in the fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, The Sound and the Fury serves as a commentary on the shifting values and way of life in the Southern United States during the early 20th century.
In William Faulkner's novel, The Sound and the Fury, the Compson family is faced with numerous challenges as they try to navigate a world that is rapidly changing around them.
