In The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner introduces us to the Compsons, a white Southern family living in post-Civil War Mississippi. The family is comprised of an alcoholic father named Jason III, a neglectful, hypochondriac mother named Caroline, and their four children. The Compsons have three sons: Quentin the eldest, Jason IV and Benjy the youngest, who is also severely mentally handicapped. In addition, there is a daughter named Candace, also called Caddy, who does not have her own voice in the story. Through the narration of her three brothers, we watch as Caddy transforms from a precocious little girl into a promiscuous young woman, who soon discovers herself pregnant out of wedlock. Frantic not to bring shame and dishonor to her
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Backus that Benjy is having an incestuous affair with Caddy, without comprehending its meaning. Although Backus uses references within Faulkner’s text to support his theory, Collins highly doubts the probability that any intercourse takes place. On the day in which Caddy loses her virginity, Benjy “pushes” Caddy up the stairs to the bathroom. According to Collins, Backus insists that this is a sexual metaphor but Collins believes that the “push” in question is meant as a literal shove and that it was highly improbable that Caddy would have allowed Benjy to have sex with her so soon after she has made love to Dalton Ames. However, Collins concludes that Benjy does indeed view Caddy as the object of his sexual desire and frustration (255-259). This sexual urge may have been manifested in the scene where Benjy runs through the fence and attacks a young girl, leading to his …show more content…
Faulkner describes her as “the only one that was brave enough to climb the tree to see what was going on (142).” Likewise, he states that this scene demonstrates the courage that Caddy will have later in the story. Although she is designated as a fallen woman, she bears her burden with honor and not shame, choosing to retain her dignity, rather than choose the cowardly option of suicide like her brother Quentin or become a self-absorbed villain like her brother Jason (Faulkner
Backus that Benjy is having an incestuous affair with Caddy, without comprehending its meaning. Although Backus uses references within Faulkner’s text to support his theory, Collins highly doubts the probability that any intercourse takes place. On the day in which Caddy loses her virginity, Benjy “pushes” Caddy up the stairs to the bathroom. According to Collins, Backus insists that this is a sexual metaphor but Collins believes that the “push” in question is meant as a literal shove and that it was highly improbable that Caddy would have allowed Benjy to have sex with her so soon after she has made love to Dalton Ames. However, Collins concludes that Benjy does indeed view Caddy as the object of his sexual desire and frustration (255-259). This sexual urge may have been manifested in the scene where Benjy runs through the fence and attacks a young girl, leading to his …show more content…
Faulkner describes her as “the only one that was brave enough to climb the tree to see what was going on (142).” Likewise, he states that this scene demonstrates the courage that Caddy will have later in the story. Although she is designated as a fallen woman, she bears her burden with honor and not shame, choosing to retain her dignity, rather than choose the cowardly option of suicide like her brother Quentin or become a self-absorbed villain like her brother Jason (Faulkner