April/Faulkner Book: The Sound and the Fury

[Ryduce]

This has got to be the greatest sentence ever.

"Once a ***** always a *****,what I say."

[papayahed]

We can discuss whether Benjy is a Christ figure in the novel at some point. I believe it said he was 33 years old in the present time of the novel.

Coicindentally, emily, your post count as I write this is 3,333!

Yes our trees are blooming. I love spring.

oh, he is 33 isn't he?

There is a line somewhere in the book about the smell of dogwood or something or other - I'll have to fins it when I get home tonight.


So, why is it that Quentin's chapter is way more difficult then Benjy's??

I'm also noticing that there is mention of fire by Quentin as well.

[toddhill]

I think there are a lot more Christ figures in literature than many realize. The thing about a Christ figure is that it's not Christ. It's not going to be just like Christ or it would be Christ. It's just a figure. There are some parallels. Also, it's an interpretation of Christ, and there are many of those. So we can say Benjy is a Christ figure because there are enough clues there. Then we interpret what Faulkner is saying about and through that figure. I personally think he does function as a Christ figure. todd

[Virgil]

I think there are a lot more Christ figures in literature than many realize. The thing about a Christ figure is that it's not Christ. It's not going to be just like Christ or it would be Christ. It's just a figure. There are some parallels. Also, it's an interpretation of Christ, and there are many of those. So we can say Benjy is a Christ figure because there are enough clues there. Then we interpret what Faulkner is saying about and through that figure. I personally think he does function as a Christ figure. todd

Great! Todd, I was going to say something to the same effect. Benjy is a person who draws compassion, the forever innocent. At least draws compassion for some.

[papayahed]

Great! Todd, I was going to say something to the same effect. Benjy is a person who draws compassion, the forever innocent. At least draws compassion for some.

I've always thought of a christ figure as someone that is "scarificed" for the others, I haven't seen that yet. Unless it's the fact that he was born "special".. I dunno, give me a math problem please.


And that's another thing, did Faulkner intend to have the "smelling like trees" mean something? Is symbolism intentional?

[emily655321]

Do you think Faulkner was trying to be provocative by picturing Christ as an "idiot"?

The age of 33 and the Easter weekend would point to that comparison, but it disappoints me. I think there are, indeed, many Christ figures in literature, as well as an unlimited number of interpretations of characters who weren't intended as such. It's been done, and done, and done to death, and reads like a cop-out. Can't think of an original idea? Model your hero after Christ, or write an essay explaining why Holden Caulfield was like Christ... Plop Christ down in the context of modern society and somehow you're making an intellectual statement. Only trouble is, it's one a million other people have already made, and most of them were grasping at straws, too. It's like the literary equivalent of splatter paintings.

I'm not saying that's what Faulkner was doing. I'm sure it wasn't, since he didn't originally plan to publish TSATF; he was writing it for himself. But that is why the mention of Christ figures makes me cringe.

[chmpman]

What's the background on how TSATF got published, or how Faulkner decided to publish it?

[emily655321]

I can't find any sources that describe the publishing history, all I know is that Faulkner changed his mind once he finished the book, because it turned out to be such a personal success. There is mention made to his original motivation, following disillusionment with his publishers, in the page I linked to before:

Before Faulkner wrote The Sound and the Fury, he had written a book which he thought was to be the book that would make his name as a writer. He wrote his publisher, “I have written THE book, of which those other things were but foals. I believe it is the damdest best book you’ll look at this year, and any other publisher.” That manuscript was Flags in the Dust, and it would not be published until eleven years after Faulkner’s death.
The discouragement of having Flags turned down, and then severely cut by his friend Ben Wasson into what would be published as Sartoris, apparently led Faulkner to begin writing a book entirely for himself, and publishers be damned. That book, originally titled “Twilight,” was The Sound and the Fury. Later, Faulkner would say it was the novel he felt most “tender” toward because it had caused him “the most grief and anguish.”

http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/n-sf.html

[toddhill]

emily, i can see if you have been exposed to that, you would cringe. i personally haven't had that experience. it actually came as a surprise to me. a pleasant one. i guess i'm kind of like a kid with this stuff. everything is so new and exciting. i don't cringe yet, but...

[Riesa]

Back to Caddy smelling like trees, this line "Caddy smelled like trees and like when she says we were asleep", this was repeated a couple of times, it bothered me, what does he mean?

[chmpman]

I think he's referring to the fact that he never really realizes that he is asleep, ever. He seems to associate her smelling like trees by his side, when they sleep as is related later, into his sleeping state. I was just rereading the first few pages and this line stuck out to me too.

[Ryduce]

I'm beginning to think we are over analyzing this.

[Virgil]

Do you think Faulkner was trying to be provocative by picturing Christ as an "idiot"?

That is how some have read it. I don't agree. Like Todd pointed out, Benjy is a Christ-like figure, not a Christ. I think he brngs out the compasson in people, for those who can feel compasson. But there are probably multiple meanings going on.

I'm not saying that's what Faulkner was doing. I'm sure it wasn't, since he didn't originally plan to publish TSATF; he was writing it for himself. But that is why the mention of Christ figures makes me cringe

Look, I would cringe too if I thought Holden Caufield was a Christ figure. Benjy is not the central character of the novel. He's there as a foil for the other characters, to show what they're made of. There is a difference.

Back to Caddy smelling like trees, this line "Caddy smelled like trees and like when she says we were asleep", this was repeated a couple of times, it bothered me, what does he mean?

I think it emphasizes the innocence of the love between the Benjy and Caddy. It counter points Quentin's lie (and perhaps sub-conscious desire) that he slept with his sister.

[chmpman]

It counter points Quentin's lie (and perhaps sub-conscious desire) that he slept with his sister.

Damnit, you ruined the book for me. (jokes)

[rabid reader]

Just started tonight and finished the first part... I was alittle confused at first, then I began to realize that the italics were flashbacks... or more like chapters. I also got alittle lost with the two Quentins... I thought the brother got a sex change or something... lol. The last part that seemed bizzare was the how doing: "Disley said,
"Blah, Blah, Blah."

Why is the Disley said not in the same paragraphy

Well those are the few troubles I have experinced on day one.