Stream of consciousness in Stream of consciousness in “The Sound and the Fury”“The Sound and the Fury”

Rijalda DizdarevićRijalda Dizdarević

What is the SCWhat is the SC Stream-of-consciousness (interior monologue) Stream-of-consciousness (interior monologue)

- a narrative method of writing in which the - a narrative method of writing in which the author writes as though he is in the mind of the author writes as though he is in the mind of the characters characters

Virginia Wolf: “To the Lighthouse”Virginia Wolf: “To the Lighthouse” James Joyce: “Ullyses”James Joyce: “Ullyses” William Faulkner: William Faulkner: “The Sound and the “The Sound and the

Fury”Fury”

distinction between: distinction between: 1. 1. stream of consciousnessstream of consciousness (continuous (continuous

flow of sensations, images, thoughts, flow of sensations, images, thoughts, memories, impressions)memories, impressions)

2. 2. free associationfree association (process in which (process in which random data is connected with present things random data is connected with present things in memory) in memory)

The Sound and the FuryThe Sound and the Fury

W. Faulkner uses a literary technique-stream W. Faulkner uses a literary technique-stream of consciousness to tell a story of post-Civil of consciousness to tell a story of post-Civil War Southern family through the eyes of War Southern family through the eyes of characters experiencing the situation first-handcharacters experiencing the situation first-hand

Consequences of the Civil WarConsequences of the Civil War The loss of the Civil War completely altered the everyday life The loss of the Civil War completely altered the everyday life

of the South of the South a confusing time in which blacks were legally emancipated, a confusing time in which blacks were legally emancipated,

but socially unequal to whites, still unable to pursue either but socially unequal to whites, still unable to pursue either education or equal economic opportunities education or equal economic opportunities

families were affected financially, psychologically families were affected financially, psychologically and socially and socially

Financial decline had enormous effect on the moral of the Financial decline had enormous effect on the moral of the regionregion

Creating the Compson family to manifest the economic Creating the Compson family to manifest the economic troubles of the South and its negative effects troubles of the South and its negative effects

consequences continuedconsequences continued many families turned inward, becoming self-many families turned inward, becoming self-

absorbed and losing touch with reality and the absorbed and losing touch with reality and the rest of the world rest of the world

the original aristocratic families of the South the original aristocratic families of the South embodied traditional Southern valuesembodied traditional Southern values

men were expected to act like courageous, men were expected to act like courageous, chivalric, strong, gentlemen who defended the chivalric, strong, gentlemen who defended the honor of their family name honor of their family name

women were expected to be models of feminine women were expected to be models of feminine virtue; possessing wholesomeness, refinement and virtue; possessing wholesomeness, refinement and virginity (Caddy)virginity (Caddy)

faulkner's portrayal of the Compson family blatantly faulkner's portrayal of the Compson family blatantly reflects these families, whose once exemplary values reflects these families, whose once exemplary values have been corrupted, leaving younger generations have been corrupted, leaving younger generations unequipped to deal with the harshness of the world unequipped to deal with the harshness of the world which surrounds them which surrounds them

SCSC in four sections in four sections Benjy’s section Benjy’s section

- simple language and stylesimple language and style- short and simple sentencesshort and simple sentences- plain thoughtsplain thoughts- vocabulary: no difficult words as his vocabulary: no difficult words as his

vocabulary is naturally simple vocabulary is naturally simple

Quentin’s sectionQuentin’s section

-style reflecting long and complex ideas-style reflecting long and complex ideas-rich thoughts and memories-rich thoughts and memories-mind constantly jumping to ideas such as dishonor-mind constantly jumping to ideas such as dishonor-introducing philosophycal approach to life-introducing philosophycal approach to life-long, complicated sentences and thoughts-long, complicated sentences and thoughts

Jason’s sectionJason’s section

- selfish, angry individual concerned with selfish, angry individual concerned with money, vengful and ironicmoney, vengful and ironic

- employment of the SC follows character’s employment of the SC follows character’s personality personality

- reflection of single-mindnessreflection of single-mindness- moves rapidly and without much complexitymoves rapidly and without much complexity

Dilsey’s sectionDilsey’s section

- simple style without any comments or - simple style without any comments or complicationscomplications

- has a strong sense of organization and control has a strong sense of organization and control (implications to Dilsey’s character)(implications to Dilsey’s character)

- represents the posability of hope for represents the posability of hope for preservation of Southern values corrupted by preservation of Southern values corrupted by fams such as the Compsonsfams such as the Compsons

ConclusionConclusion

Faulkner's employment of the Faulkner's employment of the SCSC technique allows us to technique allows us to witness the internal turmoil of the characters who are witness the internal turmoil of the characters who are attempting to adjust to life in the post-CivWar era. He creates attempting to adjust to life in the post-CivWar era. He creates the characters of the Compson family to embody the chaos and the characters of the Compson family to embody the chaos and insecurity that was generally felt throughout the South in this insecurity that was generally felt throughout the South in this period. His ability to interpret the various thought patterns of period. His ability to interpret the various thought patterns of the different characters gives the reader a look into diverse the different characters gives the reader a look into diverse perspectives on similar issues. perspectives on similar issues.

Although the problems of the Compsons may not necessarily Although the problems of the Compsons may not necessarily reflect the South as a whole, Faulkner creates each aspect of reflect the South as a whole, Faulkner creates each aspect of the novel to reflect the time period in which it was written. The the novel to reflect the time period in which it was written. The SCSC technique proves effective in providing us with much technique proves effective in providing us with much insight into the author's opinion of the personal affects that the insight into the author's opinion of the personal affects that the post-Civil War period generated.post-Civil War period generated.

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