critical analysis of quentin's monologue - section ii of sound & fury by william falukner

8/14/2019 Critical Analysis of Quentin's Monologue - Section II of Sound & Fury by William Falukner

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Altaf Ahmed Sheikh 1 M.A (Hons.) English Literature

The Sound & The FuryBy William Faulkner

This novel has been put into four sections by the writer himself on artistic reasons without

observing chronology of either sections or events within sections. However, three sections

are primarily monologues while the fourth section is third person narrative or writers owncommentary. The section titles, dates and narrator are as follows;

i. Benjamins Monologue 7th April; 1928ii. Quentins Monologue 2nd June; 1910

iii. Jasons Monologue 6th April; 1928

iv. Writers Commentary 8th April; 1928

Section II Quentins Monologue 2nd June; 1910

Foreword

Chronologically it should be the first section of this novel since it is recorded at theearliest of all other sections in the novel.

It is the same day when Quentin, the elder child in family, commits suicide, justtwo months subsequent to caddys marriage on 25th April; 1910.

Summary

Quentin woke up frustrated, saw time in the watch, an inherited gift from his father

who had received from his grandfather.

He remembered caddy, her marriage and began recollecting his past. He had toldhis father that he had incest with caddy.

He talked about Shreve & Spoade; his two classmates. Spoade was rogue and often

pursuing women while Shreve was lazy & sluggish.

He recalled what his father had said about women; in south it was embarrassing for

a man if he had no relationship with a woman. And women did not bother about their

virginity.

He revealed his intention of doing something with caddy and shocking the whole

world.

He remembered admitting before his father that he is responsible for getting caddy

pregnant, and not the Dalton Ames. But, his father did not believe him.

He wrote two letters, one to Shreve, and other to his father informing them of his

intention to commit suicide.

He broke his watch when he was frustrated with time tickling. He then remembers Benjy as having an instinct to smell an approaching misfortune,

like he had sensed an omen before seeing his grandmothers death.

He went out, purchased two iron bricks weighing twelve pounds approx. forbinding with his body before jumping into the river. Then he rode on a streetcar to

riverside.

He saw his friend Gerald practicing rowing at the river where he had come.

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He recalled Caddys boyfriend Herbert who had gifted Caddy a car and had also

promised Jason a job in his bank.

He thought about his entry into Howard which was on the money produced afterselling Benjys share in family pasture.

He had conversation with three boys at river about a trout fish which nobody could

catch in last twenty five years. From there he went into the bakery shop where a little girl entered the shop behind

him. He gave her some bread and left bakery. The Italian little girl followed after him.

He was astonished, asked her the name and details but she did not answer him.Confused, he looked around for some help but failing so tried to run & escape from

girl. But she pursued him everywhere.

Julio, little girls brother, while seeing him with his sister, charged him ofkidnapping the girl. He was arrested and brought to court where he was penalized six &

one dollars.

He recalled his quarrel with Dalton Ames whom he asked to leave this city andthreatened to kill him if found around again. Dalton sensed the situation and played on

him emotionally by firing two shots in the water and then handing over the pistol toQuentin asking him to shoot if he dared.

Later on he attended a picnic with all three friends Gerald, Shreve & Spoade, who

ridiculed him for kidnapping a little girl. There he fought with Gerald & was injured.

Lastly, he returned to his room, brushed his hair & teeth, picked up his hat & left

for river where he had planned to jump off and commit suicide.

Critical Analysis

At the offset of this section, Quentin is presupposed to have intention of committing

suicide.

Although, description of suicide is not given in the novel, yet one can perceive thatthe suicide must have taken place as this character is missing in rest of the sections.

The principal reasons for his suicide were his incestuous desires towards caddy and

then caddys disgrace which kept him haunting till the last moment. His craving forparental affection and failing to receive due love from either his mother or father was

also deriving him towards negative view about life. At a stage he wished if he had any

mother so he could call her Mother, Mother.

Quentin had not committed incest with his sister, but he admits this to his fatheronly to defend caddys honour before the family.

Quentin tries to bring peace to his soul by compensating Caddys honour by taking

revenge from Dalton Ames and Herbert. Both dominated his prowess when it came tofighting and he ended up in adding more miseries to his already miserable life.

Quentins father had very derogatory views about women. He believed that concept

of virginity was men made and women hardly cared about it in their lives.

Quentins and Benjys perspective of life had been juxtaposed here. Benjy being

the innocent and mentally retarded person had a brighter view of life and often found

peace in things which he adored. However, Quentin, being the eldest child and student

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of Howard, had a pessimistic attitude towards life and could not find peace in anything.

Such contrast has been indicated quite vividly.

This whole section is incoherent, very loosely stringed or not tied at all. Even many

dialogues do not have proper punctuation.

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critical analysis of quentin's monologue - section ii of sound & fury by william falukner

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