The Sound and the Fury

Definition

The Sound and the Fury is a novel by William Faulkner, published in 1929, that exemplifies the use of fragmentation and nonlinear narratives to convey the inner turmoil of its characters and the disintegration of the Compson family. The narrative is divided into four sections, each told from different perspectives and employing varying styles, which reflects the chaotic nature of the characters’ lives and their struggles with time, memory, and identity.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The first section of The Sound and the Fury is narrated by Benjy Compson, a character with a mental disability, showcasing a fragmented timeline that reflects his perception of reality.
2. The novel employs various narrative styles, including stream of consciousness, which immerses readers in the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions.
3. The second section is told from Quentin Compson's perspective on the day he commits suicide, revealing his intense struggle with time and his family's decline.
4. The third section shifts to Jason Compson’s viewpoint, emphasizing his bitterness and cynicism as he navigates the family's financial ruin.
5. The final section features an omniscient narrator who provides a broader view of the Compson family's collapse, integrating themes of loss, decay, and the passage of time.

Review Questions

• How does Faulkner's use of fragmentation in The Sound and the Fury enhance our understanding of the characters’ psychological states?
  • Faulkner's fragmentation mirrors the disarray within the Compson family and highlights each character's emotional turmoil. For example, Benjy's disjointed memories reveal his innocence and confusion about loss. Quentin's fragmented thoughts reflect his obsession with time and honor. This nonlinear structure forces readers to piece together the narrative, creating an intimate connection with each character's struggles.
• Discuss how multiple perspectives in The Sound and the Fury contribute to the overarching themes of identity and memory.
  • The multiple perspectives in The Sound and the Fury allow readers to see how each character perceives their family's decline differently. Benjy’s innocent view contrasts sharply with Quentin’s tortured mindset. Jason’s cynical outlook further complicates these themes. This approach deepens our understanding of identity as it shows how individual memories shape personal experiences within a shared family narrative.
• Evaluate how The Sound and the Fury reflects modernist literary techniques through its narrative structure and themes.
  • The Sound and the Fury exemplifies modernist techniques by breaking away from traditional storytelling methods. Its nonlinear narrative structure embodies disorientation, a hallmark of modernist literature. Themes of fragmentation, temporal dislocation, and subjective reality challenge readers' perceptions of truth. By employing stream-of-consciousness and varying perspectives, Faulkner illustrates the complexities of human experience amid societal changes, making it a significant work within modernism.

Related terms

Stream of Consciousness: A narrative technique that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts and feelings as they occur in the mind, often used in modernist literature to reflect character psychology.

Multiple Perspectives: A storytelling approach that presents a story from the viewpoints of different characters, allowing for a more complex understanding of events and themes.

Modernism: A cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and experimentation with narrative techniques, including fragmentation and ambiguity.