Faulkner's Use of Vocabulary in "The Sound and the Fury"

William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury is exceedingly difficult to fully analyze and understand upon first read; however, Robert A. Martin’s article, “The Words of The Sound and the Fury” notes that Faulkner inserted key terms and phrases to link the story together. In the first section, what Matin calls Benjy’s section, the concept and image of a fire is essential to the flow of the story. In Quentin’s section, the term “shadow” holds a lot of significance. However, in Jason’s section, there is an end to the assignment of important words. Dilsey’s section illustrates a return to Faulkner’s traditional style used for most of the novel as it contains many references to the word “window.” Although these words may seem to be nothing more than simple vocabulary, in fact, they give us much insight into each character. Benjy’s obsession with fire is linked to his inability to accept change and the fact that no matter what, fire is always just fire. Quentin’s neurotic nature is reflected in the shadow imagery, and Dilsey’s references to the window are symbolic of her character as an observer of the dysfunctional Compson family. Faulkner purposefully changed the style in Jason’s section to emphasize Jason’s feelings of superiority in the Compson family. I wish I had understood this concept of key words before reading The Sound and the Fury because it would have made the story so much easier to analyze. I think Martin makes some really valid points and after reading his work, I am able to better appreciate Faulkner’s talent and style (261).

Martin, Robert A. “The Words of ‘The Sound and the Fury’.” The Southern Literary Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1. University of North Carolina Press, 1999, pp. 46-56.