In reading The Sound and the Fury, it became apparent that the literary work mirrored the teachings and stories of the Bible. This first was shown in the order in which the novel is written as it is divided into the four separate sections, similar to that of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The biblical similarity continues with the several Christ-like characters. In one aspect, Benjy portrays himself to be the Christ-like image through his purity. One might also paradoxically see Caddy as this figure as she becomes the leader and ideal of her brothers and is exiled, seeming dead to the family. In following the story of Caddie, one can find the motif of original sin in respect to her daughter. Because Caddie (Eve) led a promiscuous lifestyle, her daughter now makes similar choices. Along with the idea of sin comes the theme of resurrection. The first narration is that of Benjy’s taking place on Good Friday and the final narration being on Easter Sunday. This addition shows the Compson family has been immersed in sin and shall be resurrected that Sunday, through the Christ-like figures of the story.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Text Connection
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The symbolism in the novel can also be seen as text-connection to the Bible (Genesis) when Caddy soils her underwear in the river where she is playing around with her brothers. While this does foreshadow her eventual life of sin and her 'promiscuous lifestyle,' it also parallels Adam and Eve's fall from grace as well as Caddy's eventual fall from grace. Also, when Caddy says that she wants to run away, (and she eventually does leave and is exiled) this could also be connected to Eve's gradual separation from Adam and towards the serpent's cunning ways, thus leading to Eve's and Adam's exile from paradise.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't see Benjy as a Christ-like figure, as you state, for his purity, because purity for Benjy is a state of unchangeable being rather than it was for Jesus, which was a conscious choice. Benjy can't help what he feels and the actions that those erratic feelings lead to, leaving him innocent, but only as innocent as an enslaved man can ever be. Were Benjy to have all of his mental faculties in order, his life would have been different and therefore his innocence, his purity, would not have been forced upon him, leaving him free to pursue his own desires. Jesus, on the other hand, was aware of all the temptations of the world and all the sin that could be committed and remained constant in his teachings of love and respect. His purity, therefore, elevates him to a status worthy of admiration where as with Benjy, his purity is left in question.
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