April 8, 1928

Easter. Revelation. In Dilsey's chapter we are given some perspective on the dynamic of the crumbling Comspon family. Each preceding chapter has been a focused, narrow first person view of events, but the third person narration in this chapter gives a 360 degree view of the Compson family's deterioration. Like a lot of readers, I wondered at first why Faulkner chose Dilsey for the final chapter rather than Caddy. I assumed Caddy represented the New South in contrast to the men of the Compson family, but I realized Dilsey fills this role even better. She is a selfless black housemaid who cares about the selfish members of the family. Jason is the most clearly selfish, but I would argue that all members of the Compson family are selfish. Dilsey symbolizes a dramatic shift in the nature of the South; 100 years earlier she would have been property of the family, but instead she is caring for them out of her own selflessness. She symbolizes everything about the Old South that is good which gives hope that the ways of the Old South can be purified and reborn as a New South.

The family is in ruins at the end of the novel; only Benjy and Jason remain (and Caroline of course, but she is a generation removed). At the conclusion I formed an idea of what the title could mean--The Sound and the Fury--Benjy and Jason. Benjy is almost always wailing or screaming or crying or howling, and Jason is always furious about something. After the events of the story play out, the family is distilled to these two remaining members besides the matriarch Caroline. In this context, Caroline is the Old South, and Benjy and Jason are children of the Old South who must face the changing times. One of the best symbolic examples of this is at the end of the book when Luster takes Benjy on a different route at the cemetery than he is used to. Benjy begins howling, and Jason hits both Benjy and Luster when he arrives. Benjy's reaction is a manifestation of his resistance to change as is Jason's. In simplest terms, both Compson men want to remain firmly footed in the comfortable ways of the Old South, but they react differently.

Benjy and Jason (although one is likeable and one is detestable) are both obstinate. However, it is important to note that Jason cares more about himself than any Old South ideals. This is important because is symbolizes how Old South ideals were soiled by selfish intent. This is incontrast to Dilsey. When I think about the title, I conclude that Benjy and Jason are the most important characters in symbolizing reactions of the Old South to developments of the New South. Faulkner clearly chose Easter as the final day in the book for a reason; it is a parallel with the resurrection of Christ, hinting that maybe the South will resurrect itself. In the context of this along with the Compson family representing the South, Faulkner is suggesting the capability for change while highlighting the fierce resistance to it.

April 6th, 1928

I like Jason as a narrator because he is capable of communicating with basic grammar and coherent (although hateful and bigoted) thought, but I hate him as a character. He is utterly detestable. His chapter is profanity laden from the first line, "Once a b*tch always a b*tch, what I say" (p. 113). We know right away what he thinks about women. It doesn't take long to notice that Jason is full of hatred, jealousy, and contempt. To some extent he envies Quentin's education, and he certainly does not demonstrate much care for Benjy. I was appalled by some of Jason's discriminatory comments; he immediately reveals his sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic sentiments.

However, one must read Jason's chapter with perspective. It's easy to get consumed in hating Jason, but what's more important is why Faulkner created such a repugnant character. I'm honestly not sure yet, but I anticipate a better perspective when I've finished the book.

Another thing that makes Jason's narration stand apart from Benjy or Quentin is the way he skews things. With Benjy and Quentin both, we experience things as they do; with Jason we are fed his perspective. It's certainly something to keep in mind while reading his chapter.