The Sound and the Fury

Definition

The Sound and the Fury is a novel by William Faulkner, published in 1929, that uses multiple perspectives and a stream-of-consciousness narrative technique to convey the complex emotional experiences of the Compson family in the American South. This innovative use of point of view allows readers to experience time and events in fragmented ways, reflecting the characters' inner turmoil and societal changes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The novel is divided into four distinct sections, each with a different narrator and perspective, showcasing the complexities of time and memory.
2. The first section is narrated by Benjy, a mentally disabled man, providing an impressionistic view of the family's decline.
3. The second section is from Quentin's perspective, which captures his obsession with time and his sister Caddy's purity, leading to tragic consequences.
4. The third section is told from Jason's point of view, reflecting his cynical worldview and bitterness toward his family.
5. The final section shifts to a more traditional narrative style but still embodies the disarray and chaos experienced by the Compson family.

Review Questions

• How does Faulkner's use of multiple perspectives in The Sound and the Fury enhance the reader's understanding of the Compson family's struggles?
  • Faulkner's use of multiple perspectives allows readers to see the Compson family's struggles from various angles, highlighting their individual challenges and emotions. Each narrator provides unique insights into their relationships and internal conflicts, creating a multifaceted portrayal of family dynamics. This approach helps illustrate how their personal experiences are interwoven with broader societal changes in the South.
• Discuss the significance of Benjy's narration in shaping the overall narrative structure of The Sound and the Fury.
  • Benjy's narration is significant because it sets a tone of fragmentation and confusion that permeates the novel. His stream-of-consciousness style captures his perceptions in a nonlinear fashion, reflecting his mental state and emphasizing themes of memory and loss. This unconventional perspective forces readers to engage actively with the text, piecing together events as Benjy recalls them, which mirrors the disintegration of the Compson family's world.
• Evaluate how The Sound and the Fury reflects modernist themes through its narrative techniques and character portrayals.
  • The Sound and the Fury exemplifies modernist themes through its experimental narrative techniques, such as stream of consciousness and fragmented storytelling. Faulkner's portrayal of characters grappling with alienation, disillusionment, and societal changes underscores modernist concerns about identity and meaning. The complexity of these characters' inner lives reflects a departure from traditional narrative forms, making it a seminal work that challenges readers to confront the chaos of human experience.

Related terms

Stream of Consciousness: A narrative technique that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts and feelings as they occur, often resulting in a disjointed or nonlinear structure.

Narrative Perspective: The viewpoint from which a story is told, which can greatly affect how readers perceive characters and events.

Modernism: A broad cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and an exploration of new literary techniques and themes.