Masculinity In The Sound And The Fury

Another theme of social upheaval includes the castration prevalent in The Sound and the Fury and there is several evidence of Caddy’s emasculation of her brothers within the novel. The “men” are losing their “manhood,” in the control that they would have over the typically complacent women of the Old South, but not Caddy. Caddy “castrates” Quentin, as she is an object he cannot control. Without control, he is not a man, and if he is not a man, that leaves in him only the feminine side of nature. Quentin explains to readers, “women . . . do have an affinity for evil, for believing that no woman is to be trusted, but that some men are too innocent to protect themselves” (Faulkner 105). As such, Quentin becomes “too innocent” of a man who cannot protect his own masculinity any more than

Her role is to oversee their family and is ultimately the caretaker of the Compson children. Like Caddy, Faulkner refuses to allow Dilsey to voice her own thoughts. It can be argued that Faulkner emphasizes black characters as a lower social class compared to their white counterparts. In addition, the word “nigger” is repetitively used throughout the entire novel, and in a way, that belittles African Americans. She continues to prove to be more of a mother than the Compson children’s mother, but she is used and viewed as both a savior and a slave. Although she does more work than Mrs. Compson by taking care of and raising Benjy, but she is the least appreciated of the characters. Her opinions are often ignored. The lack of appreciation is showcased in Jason’s treatment of her and the way he speaks about her. Regardless of how much Dilsey has done for the Compson children, when it comes down it, it is obvious that racial boundaries supersede over the friendships and relationships. Faulkner silences her voice in the fourth section similar to how the Blacks were silenced as a whole during this