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The Sound And The Fury By William Faulkner

Decent Essays

In William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury” themes such as culture and names are displayed through the perspective of the formerly respectable Compson family. Led by Mr. and Mrs. Compson. Faulkner uses this novel to criticize the importance of reputations to southern families and to criticize the culture of Post Bellum society. Criticizing society was something relatively new at this time, resulting in this novel becoming a leader in the movement, ushering in a new style of writing. Protagonists: Benjamin, Caddy, and Quentin all feel the effects of the issues of reputation and ideologies of society that culture in the south attempts to force them to uphold. The beginning of the Novel places the reader in the mind of Benjamin Compson. …show more content…

Another example is Benjy’s castration. Benjy has a special connection to his sister Caddy. Caddy goes against the grain of society and treats Benjy as her brother, not as a burden or an ill judgment from God like the rest of her family. “I thought that Benjamin was punishment enough for any sins I have committed I thought he was my punishment for putting aside my pride and marrying a man who held himself above me I don’t complain I loved him above all of them because of it because my duty” (Faulkner) When Caddy ran away he grieved by the fence, watching the school girls return to their homes, hoping that Caddy would return to hers. Benjamin attempts to grab one of the girls resulting in him being labeled as a threat. Benjy’s assault was not intended to be sexual. However, it was still seen as a threat. Not only a threat to the families of the girls, but also a threat to the Compsons. If Benjy reproduced it would plague them with another child, most likely suffering from the same disabilities as its father. Another direct example of Benjy being viewed as inferior. Faulkner uses Benjy to display the flaws of the ideology towards disabled peoples in Post-Bellum culture. The theme of names is also present with Benjy. Faulkner uses Benjy to criticize the importance of ones reputation in the south. It can be inferred several times from close examination of Mrs. Compsons dialogue that she often worries about how Benjamin

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