The Sound and the Fury
Back of the Book
The Sound and the Fury is the tragedy of the Compson family, featuring some of the most memorable characters in literature: beautiful, rebellious Caddy; the manchild Benjy; haunted, neurotic Quentin; Jason, the brutal cynic; and Dilsey, their black servant. Their lives fragmented and harrowed by history and legacy, the character’s voices and actions mesh to create what is arguably Faulkner’s masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.
Why You Should Read It
Faulkner’s attitude to writing and reading was humorous, pragmatic. Famously inaccessible at times, Faulkner’s self awareness regarding the caliber of his writing and the quality of his stream of consciousness might have been a result of this attitude—that it was his job, that he does his best and knows his trade well. The Sound and The Fury is a testament to the fine construction of literature, and one of Faulkner’s own favorites of his works. Focusing on a character who is absent throughout the novel but presented to the readers through the eyes of a disdainful and pitying ensemble. Faulkner’s demanding ideologies for writing show up in the emotions that his work provokes, the level of tragedy comparable only to La Tentation de Saint Antoine or The Old Testament, which is what the writer himself wanted—an unrelenting beating down of moral and emotional consequence within his narratives, sorrow as exquisite as the structure of the novels themselves.
Memorable Passage
I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire.... I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.
About the Author
William Faulkner (1897–1962) was an influential American novelist and Nobel Prize laureate whose profound contributions to literature have secured his place as one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century. Born in Mississippi, Faulkner's novels, including The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, and Absalom, Absalom!, are revered for their innovative narrative techniques, intricate storytelling, and exploration of the complexities of the American South. Faulkner's deep engagement with themes of race, class, and morality, coupled with his distinctive use of stream-of-consciousness and nonlinear narrative structures, has influenced generations of writers. His ability to capture the nuances of the Southern experience and the human condition, coupled with his literary experimentation, makes William Faulkner worth knowing not only as a literary giant but also as a trailblazer who reshaped the landscape of American literature.
Further Viewing
James Franco’s poorly reviewed adaptation, The Sound and the Fury (2014)
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