Themes W. Faulkner
2
Themes in The Sound and the Fury A Time The Themes in The Sound and the Fury are so closely interwoven (intretesut) with the Characters and structure of the novel that it is difficult to separate these elements. In all four sections of the novel, however, time is an important theme that Faulkner develops. Th e central Characters of the four sections each cope with time in a different way. In the first section, Benjy’s sense of time is defective. His thoughts move from present to past time without the ability to grasp the real meaning of events. Benjy is free from time because he cannot understand its impact on his feelings. Quentin’s efforts to cope with the present are impeded by his memories. He cannot accept the changes in his life that time inevitably brings. His sense of loss over the innocence of his childhood love of Caddy is unbearable. Rather than deal with life’s changes over time, he puts an end to time by committing suicide. Jason, on the other hand, lives in time present, around which all his actions flow. By living in time present, Jason reacts to events as they occur, unlike Quentin who acts on time past. In the last section of the book, Dilsey represents another view of time. Hers is a historical view. She embraces all of her life experiences and those of the Compsons with a religious faith about the timelessness of life. Her view most closely reflects the author’s viewpoint on time. By having the novel cover four days, each section representing one day, Faulkner is able to use time to give the novel a tight framework. B Pride Pride is the undoing of the Compson family. The loss of their property and status demoralizes the elder Compsons, Caroline and Jason III, the parents of Benjy, Quentin, Jason, and Caddy. Out of their sense of f amily pride and their economic and social decline, they turn inward. Mr. Compson turns to alcohol in his sense of loss. Mrs. Compson retreats to her bed and self-pity. Quentin’s concern over the family “honor” and how Caddy has shamed the family lead hi m to kill himself. The younger Jason is racked with pride and it is his undoing (distrugere). With him it is both pride and jealousy. He feels cheated and feels that he deserves better. Caddy deceived him, he thinks, and he uses this to justify stealing from her. When Caddy’s daughter, Quentin, steals from her uncle, Jason, he is outraged that he has been undone. Faulkner shows the tragic results of pride in the Characters of these Compson family members. C Love and Passion Natural and unnatural love among siblings, love between the sexes, and Christian love are Themes that pervade The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner shows the love the Compson brothers have for Caddy. Benjy loves the care she gave him when they were young. When he hears the word “caddie” called out on the golf course, he moans because it sounds like her name. He misses her after she leaves home to marry. Benjy’s love is t he love of an innocent for someone who has shown him affection. Quentin’s love for his sister Caddy is an unnatural one. He has incestuous feelings for her. He is jealous of her boyfriends and denies that she has had lovers. He fantasizes an incestuous relationship between them, although Faulkner writes in his “Appendix: Compson 1699-1945” that Quentin “loved not the idea of the incest which he would
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Transcript of Themes W. Faulkner
8/13/2019 Themes W. Faulkner
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Themes in The Sound and the Fury
A TimeThe Themes in The Sound and the Fury are so closely interwoven (intretesut) with theCharacters and structure of the novel that it is difficult to separate these elements. In all foursections of the novel, however, time is an important theme that Faulkner develops. The centralCharacters of the four sections each cope with time in a different way. In the first section,Benjy’s sense of time is defective. His thoughts move from present to past time without theability to grasp the real meaning of events. Benjy is free from time because he cannotunderstand its impact on his feelin gs. Quentin’s efforts to cope with the present are impededby his memories. He cannot accept the changes in his life that time inevitably brings. His senseof loss over the innocence of his childhood love of Caddy is unbearable. Rather than deal withlife’s changes over time, he puts an end to time by committing suicide. Jason, on the otherhand, lives in time present, around which all his actions flow. By living in time present, Jasonreacts to events as they occur, unlike Quentin who acts on time past. In the last section of the
book, Dilsey represents another view of time. Hers is a historical view. She embraces all of herlife experiences and those of the Compsons with a religious faith about the timelessness of life.Her view most closely reflects the a uthor’s viewpoint on time. By having the novel cover fourdays, each section representing one day, Faulkner is able to use time to give the novel a tightframework.
B PridePride is the undoing of the Compson family. The loss of their property and status demoralizesthe elder Compsons, Caroline and Jason III, the parents of Benjy, Quentin, Jason, and Caddy.Out of their sense of family pride and their economic and social decline, they turn inward. Mr.Compson turns to alcohol in his sense of loss. Mrs. Compson retreats to her bed and self-pity.Quentin’s concern over the family “honor” and how Caddy has shamed the family lead him tokill himself. The younger Jason is racked with pride and it is his undoing (distrugere). With him itis both pride and jealousy. He feels cheated and feels that he deserves better. Caddy deceivedhim, he thinks, and he uses this to justify stealing from her. When Caddy’s daughter, Quentin,steals from her uncle, Jason, he is outraged that he has been undone. Faulkner shows the tragicresults of pride in the Characters of these Compson family members.
C Love and PassionNatural and unnatural love among siblings, love between the sexes, and Christian love areThemes that pervade The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner shows the love the Compson brothers
have for Caddy. Benjy loves the care she gave him when they were young. When he hears theword “caddie” called out on the golf course, he moans because it sounds like her name. Hemisses her after she leaves home to marry. Benjy’s love is t he love of an innocent for someonewho has shown him affection. Quentin’s love for his sister Caddy is an unnatural one. He hasincestuous feelings for her. He is jealous of her boyfriends and denies that she has had lovers.He fantasizes an incestuous relationship between them, although Faulkner writes in his“Appendix: Compson 1699 -1945” that Quentin “loved not the idea of the incest which he would
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