Can Benjy be the product of incest in "Sound and Fury?"

[middener]

If he's mentally challenged, it may be the cause of Uncle Maury taking Miss Caroline to the study room and always getting her drunk and them making Benjy. Another idea is if he wasn't born retarded, he may have gotten sick because of the measles because he mentions "in that room where we were all put when we were sick." Although the index does say that Benjy was born retarded, but this is just an idea that I'm throwing out there.

[mayneverhave]

You also forget that Benjy was originally named Maury, but that his name was changed after his mental disabilities were discovered.

Either way, I'm not sure there is evidence strong enough to put forth that theory, nor is it brought up in any part of the novel. Such an occurrence would seem worthy of being mentioned at least once.

[Dark Lady]

I would have to agree with Mayneverhave that there simply isn't enough textual evidence to support that theory. Really the only things you have to go by are the fact that Maury is a bit of a philanderer and the fact that incest is brought up in the novel with Quentin's claim to his father that he got Caddy pregnant. Plus I don't think one generation of incest is actually much more likely to produce disabilities. I think it has to be a few generations for the chance to be significantly raised. (However I'm no biologist)

You'd possibly have more reason to suggest Miss Quentin is the product of incest but even then I don't think there's much to back it up.

[mayneverhave]

You'd possibly have more reason to suggest Miss Quentin is the product of incest but even then I don't think there's much to back it up.

But even this would be highly contrary to the entire focal point of Quentin's (male) section in his constant obsession with Caddy's sexuality, and the fact that he desired incest with her (perhaps not out of any sexual attraction to her), in order to save her and himself from time, so that the two can burn eternally in hell - or something like that.

[Mark F.]

Incest is brought up a lot in Absalom, Absalom! to which The Sound and the Fury is a follow-up, but not strictly in relation to the Compson family. Enough to influence Quentin's thoughts though.

[rufustfirefly]

Quick question. Is it helpful to read "Absalom, Absalom" prior to TSATF ?

[kinesj]

But even this would be highly contrary to the entire focal point of Quentin's (male) section in his constant obsession with Caddy's sexuality, and the fact that he desired incest with her (perhaps not out of any sexual attraction to her), in order to save her and himself from time, so that the two can burn eternally in hell - or something like that.

More precisely, Quentin lied to his father about incest with Caddy, not (at least primarily) out of lust, but out of a desire to preserve her feminine purity and, by extension, the family honor. Quentin was at his most despondent upon the realization that his father did not proscribe to the tenets of the southern ideal which meant everything to Quentin. It was a warped attempt to preserve this ideal, or at least the veneer of it, which primarily motivated Quentin to contrive the tale of incest.

[kinesj]

Quick question. Is it helpful to read "Absalom, Absalom" prior to TSATF ?

Actually, it is more helpful to read TSATF before Absalom, Absalom. The insight into Quentin's character from the former is very helpful in understanding the latter, especially the ending.