A Freudian Interpretation Of William Faulkner’s The Sound And The Fury

The Sound and the Fury has long been considered as the most brilliant works of William Faulkner’s. It is the best demonstration of William Faulkner’s unique narrative techniques, and innovative time sequence, which makes it become the focus of the critics as well as the general readers. It is no doubt that there are various interpretations about this masterpiece. This thesis is aimed to analyze it from the point of Freudian psychoanalysis, with the theory basis of Oedipal Complex. The destination of the thesis is to reveal the essential reason that causes the tragedies of the Compson boys.In this novel, Faulkner narrates the falling of the once eminent family, the Compsons. However, it is Mrs. Compson’s unnerving and uncaring that makes the Compson boys suffer from sever childhood trauma and mentally deficiency. Maternal love is a significant factor in a child’s development. Moreover, according to Freud, the Oedipal complex is a natural process for every kid, which drives the children to compete with each other, even their father to get mother’s all love and attention. The lack of maternal love will cause children to skip this process, which will make children fragile and impotent to survive predicaments.Obsessed by doctrines of the Old southern lady-hood, Mrs. Compson is indifferent to her children, leaving all the children born without a mother. In light of Freud, the lack of maternal love will urge children to seek motherly love from other female to bridge the gap. Thus the Compson boys turn to Delsey, the black servant for caring and comfort, and their sister, Caddy, becomes the source of spiritual support for them. The natural link between mother and son is irreplaceable. Therefore, though the Compson boys transform their Oedipal Complex from their mother to Caddy, the sever childhood trauma still remains. In addition, Caddy also suffers from the same as the boys. She can never shoulder the expectations and demands that the boys have. They are doomed to be disappointed, which is accumulating with the time and will find a way to outburst. Thus, Benjy becomes less interested in the world and been sent away. Quentin, who is trapped in the incestuous desire for Caddy and has no way out, commits suicide. As for Jason, he is a totally materialist and cynic who is harsh to everyone around him, particularly to Miss Quentin, whose escaping symbolizes the failing of the family.