Faulkner and Shakespeare

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses and compares the novel "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner to the play "Macbeth," by William Shakespeare. It specifically looks at how the allusion to "Macbeth" adds to the mood and theme of the novel. This paper examines the many different ways that Faulkner weaves different themes from "Macbeth" into his own novel. The dysfunctional family in the novel and the mother's striking resemblance to Lady Macbeth are two examples of Faulkner's work.

From the Paper:

"Benjy narrates the first chapter of the book, so it is extremely difficult to follow, and understand. Indeed, this is the section of the book that is "Told by an idiot," but it is more than that. This disjointed chapter sets the stage for the rest of the novel. We learn about the family through the simplest of minds, and perhaps know them better after reading this first chapter, than at any other time in the book. While Benjy is the family idiot, he still has memories and feelings, and only sees people for what they are, not how they want others to see them. We already understand that Caddy and Quentin are extremely close, that Benjy looks on his sister as a mother figure, and that Jason is often at the edge of the family, the other siblings push him away."

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