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The Sound and the Fury
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Character List
Jason Compson III -
The head of the Compson household until his death
from alcoholism in 1912. Mr. Compson is the father
of Quentin, Caddy, Jason IV, and Benjy, and the husband of Caroline.
Caroline Compson -
The self-pitying and self-absorbed wife of
Mr. Compson and mother of the four Compson children. Caroline’s
hypochondria preoccupies her and contributes to her inability to
care properly for her children.
Quentin Compson -
The oldest of the Compson children and the narrator
of the novel’s second chapter. A sensitive and intelligent boy,
Quentin is preoccupied with his love for his sister Caddy and his
notion of the Compson family’s honor. He commits suicide by drowning himself
just before the end of his first year at Harvard.
Caddy Compson -
The
second oldest of the Compson children and the only daughter. Actually
named Candace, Caddy is very close to her brother Quentin. She becomes promiscuous,
gets pregnant out of wedlock, and eventually marries and divorces
Herbert Head in 1910.
Jason Compson IV -
The second youngest of the Compson children and
the narrator of the novel’s third chapter. Jason is mean-spirited,
petty, and very cynical.
Benjy Compson -
The
youngest of the Compson children
and narrator of the novel’s first chapter. Born
Maury Compson, his name is changed to Benjamin
in 1900, when he is discovered to be severely
mentally retarded.
Miss Quentin -
Caddy’s
illegitimate daughter, who is raised by the Compsons after Caddy’s
divorce. A rebellious, promiscuous, and miserably unhappy girl,
Miss Quentin eventually steals money from Jason and leaves town
with a member of a traveling minstrel show.
Dilsey -
The
Compsons’ “Negro” cook, Dilsey is a pious, strong-willed, protective
woman who serves as a stabilizing force for the Compson family.
Read an in-depth analysis of Dilsey.
Roskus -
Dilsey’s
husband and the Compsons’ servant. Roskus suffers from a severe
case of rheumatism that eventually kills him.
Luster -
Frony’s
son and Dilsey’s grandson. Luster is a young boy who looks after
and entertains Benjy in 1928, despite the
fact that he is only half Benjy’s age.
Uncle Maury Bascomb -
Mrs. Compson’s brother, who lives off his brother-in-law’s
money. Benjy is initially named after Uncle Maury, but Benjy’s condition
and Caroline’s insecurity about her family name convince her to
change her son’s name.
Mr. and Mrs. Patterson -
The Compsons’ next-door neighbors. Uncle Maury has
an affair with Mrs. Patterson until Mr. Patterson intercepts a note
Maury has sent to her.
Charlie -
One
of Caddy’s first suitors, whom Benjy catches with Caddy on the swing
during the first chapter.
Shreve MacKenzie -
Quentin’s roommate at Harvard. A young Canadian
man, Shreve reappears in Absalom, Absalom!, one
of Faulkner’s later novels, which is largely narrated by Shreve
and Quentin from their dorm room at Harvard.
Spoade -
A
Harvard senior from South Carolina. Spoade once mocked Quentin’s
virginity by calling Shreve
Quentin’s “husband.”
Gerald Bland -
A
swaggering student at Harvard. Quentin fights with Gerald because
he reminds him of Dalton Ames.
Julio -
The
brother of an Italian girl who attaches herself to Quentin as he
wanders Cambridge before his suicide.
Sydney Herbert Head -
The prosperous banker whom Caddy marries. Herbert
later divorces Caddy because of
her pregnancy.
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