Faulkner's Use of Time: 'The Sound and the Fury' vs 'Absalom, Absalom!'

Question

Hey there! 👋 Struggling to wrap your head around Faulkner's tricky use of time in 'The Sound and the Fury' and 'Absalom, Absalom!'? Don't worry, you're not alone! It's like he's bending time itself! 🤯 Let's break it down and compare these two novels. I think you'll find that while both novels play with chronology, they do it in very different ways. I'll use a handy comparison table to make things super clear. Let's dive in!

derekcoleman2005 · Accepted Answer

📚 Faulkner's Temporal Labyrinth: 'The Sound and the Fury' vs. 'Absalom, Absalom!'
William Faulkner, a master of Southern Gothic literature, frequently manipulates time in his novels, creating complex narratives that challenge readers. Two of his most significant works, 'The Sound and the Fury' and 'Absalom, Absalom!', exemplify this technique, albeit in distinct ways. Understanding these differences unlocks deeper insights into Faulkner's thematic concerns.

📖 Defining 'The Sound and the Fury'
'The Sound and the Fury' (1929) is characterized by its fragmented and stream-of-consciousness narration. The novel is divided into four sections, each narrated by a different member of the Compson family. The nonlinear portrayal of events highlights the subjective nature of memory and the devastating consequences of the South's decline.

⏱️ Defining 'Absalom, Absalom!'
'Absalom, Absalom!' (1936) employs a more layered and retrospective approach to time. The story of Thomas Sutpen and his doomed dynasty is pieced together through the accounts of various narrators, primarily Quentin Compson and his roommate Shreve McCannon. The narrative explores themes of ambition, race, and the burden of the past, with time acting as a crucial lens through which these themes are examined.

📊 A Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature
      'The Sound and the Fury'
      'Absalom, Absalom!'

Narrative Structure
      Fragmented, four sections each with a different narrator (Benjy, Quentin, Jason, Dilsey) and their stream-of-consciousness.
      Layered, retrospective narration primarily through Quentin Compson and Shreve McCannon, reconstructing the Sutpen story.

Temporal Distortion
      Shifting perspectives and internal monologues that disrupt chronological order. Time is subjective and reflects individual experiences.
      Time is explored through multiple narrators piecing together the past. Focus on historical reconstruction and its impact on the present.

Focus on Past Events
      The decline of the Compson family and its impact on the present. Each narrator relives and reinterprets key moments.
      The rise and fall of Thomas Sutpen and his dynasty, examining the roots of Southern identity and the legacy of slavery.

Use of Memory
      Memory is unreliable and deeply personal, shaping each character's perception of events.
      Memory is collective and constructed through storytelling, influenced by biases and perspectives.

Impact of Time
      Time exacerbates the Compson family's disintegration, highlighting their inability to cope with change and loss.
      Time reveals the complexities of the past and its enduring influence on the present, particularly in relation to race and social structures.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🧭 Narrative Structure: 'The Sound and the Fury' uses fragmented, internal monologues while 'Absalom, Absalom!' employs a layered, retrospective narration.
   🧠 Temporal Distortion: In 'The Sound and the Fury', time is subjective, reflecting individual consciousness; in 'Absalom, Absalom!', time is historical, explored through the reconstruction of past events.
   🕰️ Focus on Past Events: 'The Sound and the Fury' delves into the Compson family's decay, while 'Absalom, Absalom!' examines the Sutpen dynasty and the legacy of the South.
   💭 Use of Memory: Memory in 'The Sound and the Fury' is unreliable and personal; in 'Absalom, Absalom!', it's collective and constructed.
   💥 Impact of Time: Time intensifies the Compson's disintegration, but in 'Absalom, Absalom!' it reveals the South's complex past.

Faulkner's Use of Time: 'The Sound and the Fury' vs 'Absalom, Absalom!'

1 Answers

📚 Faulkner's Temporal Labyrinth: 'The Sound and the Fury' vs. 'Absalom, Absalom!'

📖 Defining 'The Sound and the Fury'

⏱️ Defining 'Absalom, Absalom!'

📊 A Side-by-Side Comparison

🔑 Key Takeaways

Join the discussion

Feature	'The Sound and the Fury'	'Absalom, Absalom!'
Narrative Structure	Fragmented, four sections each with a different narrator (Benjy, Quentin, Jason, Dilsey) and their stream-of-consciousness.	Layered, retrospective narration primarily through Quentin Compson and Shreve McCannon, reconstructing the Sutpen story.
Temporal Distortion	Shifting perspectives and internal monologues that disrupt chronological order. Time is subjective and reflects individual experiences.	Time is explored through multiple narrators piecing together the past. Focus on historical reconstruction and its impact on the present.
Focus on Past Events	The decline of the Compson family and its impact on the present. Each narrator relives and reinterprets key moments.	The rise and fall of Thomas Sutpen and his dynasty, examining the roots of Southern identity and the legacy of slavery.
Use of Memory	Memory is unreliable and deeply personal, shaping each character's perception of events.	Memory is collective and constructed through storytelling, influenced by biases and perspectives.
Impact of Time	Time exacerbates the Compson family's disintegration, highlighting their inability to cope with change and loss.	Time reveals the complexities of the past and its enduring influence on the present, particularly in relation to race and social structures.