The Sound and the Fury

The first part of the novel is told by Benjy in first-person, stream-of-consciousness narration. Benjy, who is severely mentally disabled, narrates in a manner that is disorienting at first but eventually becomes both legible and quite beautiful. The first paragraph of the book introduces readers to this style: 

Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting. They were coming toward where the flag was and I went along the fence. Luster was hunting in the grass by the flower tree. They took the flag out, and they were hitting. Then they put the flag back and they went to the table, and he hit and the other hit. Then they went on, and I went along the fence. Luster came away from the flower tree and we went along the fence and they stopped and we stopped and I looked through the fence while Luster was hunting in the grass.

Cite this Quote

The novel's second part is told by Quentin III, Jason and Caddy’s brother, in first-person, stream-of-consciousness narration. It recounts the day of his suicide, nearly two decades before the other three parts. Quentin is articulate, educated, obsessive, and perhaps slightly unstable. His narration is difficult and dense because of its academic complexity and its flashbacks, but it also contains some of Faulkner’s most virtuosic and impactful writing. A good example is the beginning of his section's opening:

When the shadow of the sash appeared on the curtains it was between seven and eight oclock and then I was in time again, hearing the watch. It was Grandfather's and when Father gave it to me he said I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; it's rather excruciatingly apt that you will use it to gain the reducto absurdum of all human experience which can fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father’s.

Cite this Quote

The third section of The Sound and the Fury is narrated by Jason Compson in first-person, stream-of-consciousness narration. Jason's mind is often a difficult space to occupy. He is cruel, prejudiced, manipulative, and certain that both the world and his family are unfairly rigged against him. A good example occurs when he stops by the telegraph office, where men are buying stocks in the cotton market:

While I was looking a report came in. It was up two points. They were all buying. I could tell that from what they were saying. Getting aboard. Like they didn’t know it could go but one way. Like there was a law or something against doing anything but buying. Well, I reckon those eastern jews have got to live too. But I’ll be damned if it hasn’t come to a pretty pass when any dam foreigner that cant make a living in the country where God put him, can come to this one and take money right out of an American’s pockets.

Cite this Quote