Paradoxes In The Compson Children

William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury has been the focus of critical studies since its publication. This thesis aims to analyze the paradoxes in the Compson children and, by doing so, to explore the profound meaning of the novel.The thesis consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. The introduction is a brief account of the content of the thesis and the critical approaches I adopt in my analysis. Chapter One is on the paradox in Benjy. I first use mythical-archetypal approach to reveal Benjy as a Christ figure. William Faulkner aims to use the parallel between Christ and Benjy to highlight Benjy's lack of love and suffering. Thus Benjy is a paradox of Christ figure and idiot. Chapter Two deals with the paradox in Quentin. Deeply influenced by the Southern heritage, Quentin imagines himself to be a chevalier. Nevertheless, he turns out to be impotent, failing to do anything successfully. Thus he is a paradox of an impotent chevalier. Chapter Three is about the paradox in Jason. Rejecting the identity of a Sartoris (Compson) and noted for his evil deeds, Jason is not a complete Sartoris. But being the victim of the Snopeses himself and because of his irrationality in handling money, Jason is not a complete Snopes either. Thus he is a paradox of Sartoris and Snopes. Chapter Four deals with the paradox in Caddy. There isno doubt that Caddy is "the beautiful one" because she is brave and capable of unselfish love. There is also no doubt that she falls into promiscuity at last. Thus she is a paradox of "the beautiful one" and "bitch". Her fall results from the lack of love in her family and from the repression of her normal desire in her growing up by her family members. She loves her brothers unselfishly but none of her brothers cares for her own welfare. So in terms of feminist theory, she is just the "other" and her tragedy is one of a repressed woman by the male and the social tradition.Finally the thesis concludes that sharing the confusion of identity, all the Compson children are paradoxical figures. From a historical-biographical critical point of view, the paradoxes in the Compson children also reflect Southern society in transition in the early decades of the twentieth century. All of the children are victims of their degenerate family and social circumstances.