The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

1. Introduction

If Absalom, Absalom! is the mountain, The Sound and the Fury is the dense, fog-covered forest at its base. Published in 1929, this novel is widely considered one of the greatest works of American literature—and arguably the most challenging.

It is the story of the tragic collapse of the Compson family, formerly Southern aristocrats who are drowning in debt, alcoholism, and delusions of grandeur. But this isn't a standard family drama. It is a radical experiment in storytelling that smashes the concept of time into pieces. It forces you to step inside four very different minds to piece together the truth. It is significant because it changed how novels could be written, proving that a story doesn’t have to move in a straight line to hit you with the force of a freight train.

2. About the Author

William Faulkner (1897–1962) By the time Faulkner wrote The Sound and the Fury, he was determined to write something purely for himself, without worrying about publishers or sales. Ironically, this artistic freedom resulted in his most enduring masterpiece.

Faulkner famously struggled to write this book, describing it as his "most splendid failure." He tried to tell the story of the Compson children three separate times through different characters, felt he still hadn't got it right, and finally added a fourth section to tie it together. He was a master of "Stream of Consciousness," a style that attempts to capture the chaotic, unorganized flow of human thought. In this novel, he pushes that style to its absolute limit.

3. Story Overview

Benjy: The Shattered Mirror

The book opens with one of the most famous and disorienting sections in literature. It is narrated by Benjy Compson, a 33-year-old man with significant intellectual disabilities. Benjy has no concept of time; for him, a smell or a sound in the present instantly transports him to a memory from twenty years ago.

The reader is dropped into a swirling confusion of past and present, but through the chaos, we see the heart of the tragedy: the loss of Caddy, the only sister who ever showed Benjy true love. This section sets the tone of loss and confusion that haunts the family.

Quentin: The Obsessive Mind

The second section jumps back in time to 1910 and takes us into the brilliant but tortured mind of Benjy’s brother, Quentin, on the day he commits suicide at Harvard.

Quentin is obsessed with the decline of his family’s honor and specifically with his sister Caddy’s "purity." He cannot handle the changing world or his sister’s sexual awakening. His narrative is neurotic, anxious, and heartbreaking, filled with broken clocks and shadows. It is a portrait of a young man crushed by the weight of expectations and a past he cannot control.

Jason: The Bitter Reality

The third section snaps us back to 1928, narrated by the third brother, Jason. Unlike the poetic Quentin or the innocent Benjy, Jason is cruel, cynical, and purely materialistic. He represents the "New South"—shorn of romance and obsessed with money.

He works a dead-end job, steals money from his niece (Caddy’s daughter), and complains incessantly about his burdens. Through his hateful eyes, we see the family’s total moral and financial collapse. He is the villain of the piece, but his section provides the clear narrative details that the first two sections obscured.

Dilsey: The Quiet Strength

The final section shifts from first-person internal monologue to an objective third-person view. It focuses largely on Dilsey, the family's Black cook and matriarch figure who has held the Compson household together for decades.

Taking place on Easter Sunday, this section offers a stark contrast to the previous three. While the Compsons are obsessed with themselves and their decay, Dilsey is focused on faith, duty, and endurance. She is the only one who sees the family clearly, famously stating, "I’ve seen the first and the last."

4. Key Takeaways

• The Subjectivity of Time: To Benjy, time is nothing; to Quentin, it is a prison; to Jason, it is money.

  • Insight: We all experience time differently based on our emotional state and our obsessions.

• The Decline of the Old South: The Compsons represent the rotting aristocracy, unable to adapt to the modern world.

  • Insight: Clinging to a glorified past often prevents us from surviving the present.

• The Elusiveness of Truth: No single narrator gives the full story; the reader must assemble the truth from four biased perspectives.

  • Insight: Truth is rarely objective; it is usually a composite of different, flawed viewpoints.

• The Power of Endurance: In the face of the Compsons' nihilism, Dilsey represents the power of faith and perseverance.

  • Insight: While "great" families fall due to their own hubris, the humble and steadfast endure.

5. Why This Book Is a Must Read

The Sound and the Fury is the ultimate literary puzzle. It belongs on a '100 Books You Must Read' list because it challenges you to be an active participant in the storytelling.

It teaches you patience and empathy. You have to learn how to read Benjy’s mind, how to decipher Quentin’s pain, and how to tolerate Jason’s cruelty. Once the pieces click into place, the emotional payoff is devastating. It is a book about the failure of love and the disintegration of a family, told in a way that makes you feel that disintegration in your own bones. It is, quite simply, a work of genius.