The Sound and the Fury Analytical essays

The Sound and the Fury Analytical essays Faulkners novel, The Sound and the Fury, shows the decline of a well-established and well-known southern aristocratic family. The novels main focuses are the moral decay of the Compson family and time (not letting go of the past). Throughout the novel we see how the values of the Compson family, which represents the old south, being erased as time moves on. The Compsons unwillingness to change with their surroundings and it ultimately destroys their family. In the novel the Compsons represent the old south. The Compsons are an old white southern aristocratic family living in Mississippi. Faulkner uses this family to illustrate the old traditions of southern culture and how time was corrupting the morals of the entire south. We see the decay of the south in the novels characters and their actions. Mr. Compson is an alcoholic. He over the years has become very cynical and believes all the old values of the south like purity are hogwash. Mrs. Compson has become so self absorbed that she forgets she has a responsibility to raise children. She is not seen in the book as the traditional southern mother but a self-pitying hypochondriac. In the novel Faulkner uses Quentin to show what the values of the southern aristocratic society used to be. Quentin the oldest son is the only one in his family that still believes in the old southern code. He is obsessed with tradition, family honor, and purity. Caddy, the second oldest, on the other hand does not. She grows up to be very promiscuous and has an illegitimate son, which soils the familys name. Jason the second youngest grows up and turns into his father times ten. He is very cynical and greed rules his thoughts throughout his story. Benjy is the youngest son. He epitomizes the downfall of the Compson family. Born mentally deficient he is the end of the Compson bloodline. Through his characters, mainly Quentin and Benjy, Faulkner s...