The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner Book Analysis

In “The Sound and the Fury”, a novel written by William Faulkner, he explores a reality of human existence which is a continuous, never ending flow of time. Faulkner examines this reality of time in many unexpected ways as he narrates the tragic story of the Compson family. The majority of the plot is around the Compson children, who are experiencing the peak of societal and moral decay. Dilsey, their servant, breaks away to continue believing in her values of compassion, faith, and love. Faulkner’s structure and narrative technique shown throughout the passage further a significant meaning of how consumed we are with useless things that do not matter nor can we control, all while missing the importance of our existing present. 

Through Faulker’s structure of the novel, we read through the first three chapters which are full of noise, panic, and obsession that holds them back while Dilsey peacefully contrasts in finding meaning and purpose within the sounds. A recurring motif which affects Benjiy, Quentin, and Jason is time, as the past is intruding into the present and holding them back from the future. Whether it’s being unaware of the time, wanting to escape it, or only considering it for your own gains, the Compson brothers can’t seem to accept that the present is the most significant to be immersed in because despite their efforts, time will continue to pass on. In the sermon, the preacher continues claiming, “I sees de resurrection en de light; sees de meek Jesus sayin Dey kilt me dat ye shall live again”(pg. 297). The sermon describes Mary's sorrow and the crucifixation of Jesus, but ends with the promise of resurrection and of ultimate glory, through which Dilsey finds a vision of eternity that gives time purpose. Dilsey’s life is far from ideal as a servant and someone who doesn’t have her own rights nor actual possession of herself, and yet she manages to be the only person who is able to remove herself and accept the fact of everything. She states tearfully how, “I seed de beginnin, en now I see de endin”(pg. 297). She has seen what felt like the start to this great family and watched them all fall apart as they abandoned their values. Dilsey simply accepts time for what it is, she doesn’t try to dictate it like the other characters and here she is simply accepting how time has passed for the worse as Quentin’s departure from the family brings an end to the Compson lineage. Her natural relationship with time and sticking to her values allows her to submerge herself in the experiences of her present. 

With Faulkner’s narrative technique we can understand how Dilsey accepts the senseless noise to be meaningless, removing herself from being consumed by things in which she can’t control nor matter. Dilsey being one of the wide believers in her religion and attending Easter service, shows us how she affirms God by attending these sermons through which people are constantly yelling “Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Jesus! Little Jesus”(pg. 296). All the while, the preacher is continuing to spew out nonsense as he calls out to the crowd and claims, “Bredden! Look at dem little chillen setting dar. Jesus wus like dat once.(pg. 296). Faulkner still employs the noise and chaos in Dilsey’s chapter but rather makes it something in which she believes in. Religion is the noise, the nonsense, or the nothing through which Dilsey cries and finds her meaning from. Much like how she accepts the sermon that is being preached to her, she accepts all that God has brought forth because he knows what is best and how there is a reason behind every event. Time is not an enemy to her because she is a part of God's creation, and she has no desire to bring almightiness of God down. On the walk home after the sermon, Faulkner describes how Dilsey “lifted her skirt and dried her eyes on the hem of her topmost underskirt. Then they went on”(pg. 297). An underskirt keeps the shape of your garment perfectly in place all day. It keeps the layers of fabric away from your legs, allowing you to feel cool, comfortable, and completely free. Dilsey doesn’t let the events that have happened to have a detrimental effect on her, rather she maintains composure over her mental state. She allows herself to accept all the horrible things that have happened but not to the point where it consumes everything and suddenly the past, present, and future all merge into one entity. Dilsey's calm demeanor therefore confirms her ability to let time pass naturally.