When one feels powerless, one may feel the need to create a role, which allows control. In three of different texts, Faulkner creates two characters who blame their misfortune on others. In “The Sound and the Fury” and “That Evening Sun,” Jason Compson feels helpless and isolated within his own home. Starting in childhood, Jason begins learning tactics to enable authority. When not receiving what he desires, Jason blames his lack of satisfaction on his family. In “As I Lay Dying,” Anse Bundren feels as if his family and fate hold him back from fulfilling his life. Blaming uncontrollable forces, Anse desires more than what he has been dealt. Therefore, both characters assert themselves as providers to manipulate their family, thus receiving
…show more content…
As a child, Jason could not handle receiving anything less than what he desired. From wanting sleepovers with Dilsey to being in charge, Jason would cry or tattle if he did not get what he wanted. In “That Evening Sun,” Jason “cried. He cried until mother said he couldn’t have any dessert for three days if he didn’t stop. Then Jason said he would stop if Dilsey would make a chocolate cake,” (299). After first being told no by his mother when asked if Dilsey could sleep over, Jason changes his motivation to wanting one of Dilsey’s cakes. Not only does Jason use crying as a device to get what he wants, but he also understands the power of his cry. Other than using his cry, Jason uses the power of telling on his siblings. Written numerous ways in “The Sound and the Fury,” Jason announces, “I’m going to tell on her,” (45). When his father places Caddie in charge, Jason denounces any power Caddie has by manipulating other authority figures. Jason, essentially, goes above Caddie when telling on her; thus, finding power in tattling, like crying. Instead of understanding that he could not be gifted everything he wanted, cakes or authority, Jason blames his family by asserting the little power he contains. When Jason felt unfulfilled in his childhood, he consciously places the burden of his emotion on others by crying or
As a child, Jason could not handle receiving anything less than what he desired. From wanting sleepovers with Dilsey to being in charge, Jason would cry or tattle if he did not get what he wanted. In “That Evening Sun,” Jason “cried. He cried until mother said he couldn’t have any dessert for three days if he didn’t stop. Then Jason said he would stop if Dilsey would make a chocolate cake,” (299). After first being told no by his mother when asked if Dilsey could sleep over, Jason changes his motivation to wanting one of Dilsey’s cakes. Not only does Jason use crying as a device to get what he wants, but he also understands the power of his cry. Other than using his cry, Jason uses the power of telling on his siblings. Written numerous ways in “The Sound and the Fury,” Jason announces, “I’m going to tell on her,” (45). When his father places Caddie in charge, Jason denounces any power Caddie has by manipulating other authority figures. Jason, essentially, goes above Caddie when telling on her; thus, finding power in tattling, like crying. Instead of understanding that he could not be gifted everything he wanted, cakes or authority, Jason blames his family by asserting the little power he contains. When Jason felt unfulfilled in his childhood, he consciously places the burden of his emotion on others by crying or