The Sound and the Fury · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner.
Chapter 1
April Seventh, 1928
Benjy Compson's fragmented narrative moves between the present day (April 7, 1928) and memories of his childhood, particularly the night of Damuddy's death and Caddy's care for him. In the present, Luster takes Benjy around the Compson property, where they encounter a man with a red tie and Miss Quentin. Benjy's memories are triggered by sensory details, including the smell of trees and the sight of golfers. The chapter also includes scenes of Jason's cruelty and Quentin's defiance, as well as Benjy's fixation on the gate where he once waited for Caddy.
Chapter 2
June Second, 1910
Quentin Compson wakes on the morning of June 2, 1910, preoccupied with time, memory, and his father's philosophical musings. He reflects on his watch, a family heirloom, and the burden of his family's legacy. He interacts with his roommate Shreve, receives a note from Mrs. Bland, and recalls memories of Caddy, his sister, and the Compson family's decay. The chapter is marked by Quentin's fragmented thoughts, his obsession with time, and his impending suicide.
Chapter 3
April Sixth, 1928
Jason Compson IV reflects on his family's financial struggles and his resentment toward his sister Caddy and her daughter Miss Quentin. He argues with his mother Caroline about Caddy's return and Miss Quentin's upbringing, while also expressing bitterness about his brother Benjy's condition and his own thwarted ambitions. The chapter includes flashbacks to the arrival of Miss Quentin as an infant and the family's decision to hide Caddy's name from her.
Chapter 4
April Eighth, 1928
On Easter Sunday, the Compson household is disrupted by the discovery that Miss Quentin has fled. Jason, enraged, searches her room and finds it empty, with signs of a hasty departure. He then discovers that his hidden money box has been broken into and the money stolen. Meanwhile, Dilsey takes Benjy to the Negro church, where a visiting preacher delivers a powerful sermon that moves the congregation, including Dilsey, to tears.