Sound and Fury article

The article that interested me the most was Lawrence E. Bowling’s work “Faulkner and the Theme of Innocence”. Stated in the title, Bowling’s article mainly focuses on the innocence that a majority of the characters in The Sound and the Fury face (including Caddy Quentin, Benjy, Jason, and Mrs. Compson). According to Bowling all these characters maintain their innocence throughout the novel (even, surprisingly so, Caddy). Bowling tries to persuade the audience of The Sound and the Fury’s exploration of the theme of innocence by demonstrating the brutal impact faced when Benjy and Quenin begin to lose their innocence.
To emphasize the theme of innocence, Faulkner in the introductory section tells the story of the Compson family through the eyes of Benjy, a mentally handicapped thirty-three year old. In the novel, Bowling points out that, Benjy is referred to as “natural”, a term that refers to his untainted point of view. Unlike the other characters of the novel, Benjy has no ability to reason and memories flow through his mind sin order and understanding. According to Bowling, Benjy’s innocence comes from his lack of “knowing” for even Mrs. Compson states that Benjy doesn’t know. He can’t even realize.” Yet when Benjy finally tries to gain knowledge by asking the schoolgirls where his sister, Caddy, has gone, he ends up frightening a young girl forcing his family to castrate him in fear of what he might do. Benjy’s hope to gain knowledge, in this case the whereabouts of his sister, force him to undergo a harsh procedure, one that he will recall for the rest of his life.
Once again the theme of innocence appears in the Quentin section, but unlike in the previous section, Quentin pursues an untainted moral purity, which eventually leads to his demise. Quentin’s natural behavior demonstrates his obsession of absolute purity for he admits to disliking roses simply because “they are colored and not pure white, not virgins”. Quentin tries to achieve the highest level of purity, but his plans come to a staggering end when his sister Caddie indulges in promiscuous behavior and damages the family honor. Since his “purity” has been tainted, Quentin has no choice but to commit suicide to absolve himself of sin. But even whilst making the final preparations for his death, Bowling mentions Quentin’s preoccupation with several spots and strains, signifying Quentin’s still enduring obsession with purity. Despite Quentin’s drive to attain moral perfection, he’s sister’s faltering behavior leads him to end his own life.
Bowling’s article brings to light the innocent nature that both Benjy and Quentin share. Bowling’s article helps highlight Faulker’s emphasis on innocence because as each Benjy and Quentin’s wall of innocence begins crumple, they both face unfavorable circumstances. (482)
Faulkner and the Theme of Innocence
* Lawrence E. Bowling
* The Kenyon Review, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Summer, 1958), pp. 466-487
* Published by: Kenyon College