The Sound and the Fury

William Faulkner’s 1929 novel The Sound and the Fury relays the trials and decline of a once-prominent Southern family, the Compsons. The novel grapples with the challenges of a changing cultural landscape as modernity encroaches on the values—and deep-seated prejudices—of the Old South. Told through the perspectives of the three Compson brothers, Benjy, Quentin, and Jason, the novel visits and revisits key events in the family’s past and present. Much of the concern swirls around their sister, Caddy, who expresses her independence and sexuality in ways counter to the morality expected by tradition. The novel’s final section is recounted by an omniscient narrator who hews closely to the point of view of the family’s Black housekeeper, Dilsey. This itself is indicative of the shift in the balance of power—away from old class structures with wealthy white families dominating the narrative—that threatens the formerly-influential Compsons. Faulkner, a Nobel laureate, explores the rich interior worlds and dense, difficult histories of characters caught up in the long arc of history.

This guide references the 1987 Vintage Books edition.

Note on Names: To avoid confusion about character names in the book, this guide refers to Benjamin (first named Maury) as Benjy throughout; Quentin refers to the eldest male sibling of the Compson family, while Miss Quentin refers to Caddy’s daughter, Quentin’s niece; and Father refers to Mr.