The final chapter of the Sound and the Fury is where Faulkner's true intent is revealed for the novel as a whole. Throughout the novel, the shift in narrator's went from being very difficult to understand to being more easily comprehensible. This is in order to shield the truth of his narrative in the beginning and force to reader into a different mindset than is traditionally used by authors. Faulkner wants the reader to engage in the sensory experiences that drive Benjy and Quentin in order to be empathetic towards them and in order to make the reader be active in the story and understand the culture surrounding the Compson family.
The final chapter describes the true fall of the Compson family as Quentin runs away and leaves behind the family. This is Faulkner's representation of the fall of southern society, as the Compson family name represents the old southern tradition and Quentin and Caddy represent the new culture growing, the independence of women and the progressive era that was on the rise. Faulkner's narrative is a veil over his true purpose with The Sound and the Fury, with the Compson family as a narrative that is symbolic of the change occurring in the southern culture and tradition during the time period, and this becomes clear during the change from each narrator and their perception of time and their sensory experiences.
I viewed the ending of the novel in the same way you did. The connection to the fall of the old south and the fall of the Compson's seem related. Great end thoughts on the novel!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you are saying. I am just curious, why do you think Jason left? What, in your opinion, was the final point in which Jason realized he couldn't uphold the southern ideals? I like how you explain Faulkner's narrative style.
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ReplyDeleteEllie, I also thought the Compson family narrative was symbolic of the change occurring in Southern Tradition at the time. The parents represented the older Southerners who held on to the beliefs of the past, and the mother is a great example of this. Jason represented the arrogant Southerner, and Caddy and her daughter, Quentin, could be seen as the people the society refused to accept and judged very brutally.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of Faulkner wanting the audience to engage in a sensory experience.
ReplyDeleteI liked your analysis of the whole book all together, the compson family and all narrations in general. I think you really knew what you were talking about in this analysis and it was very good!
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