Essay On Mr. Compson In The Sound And The Fury

William Faulkner is a celebrated American author. A native of the south, many of his novels have a southern influence and often revolve around a common theme: the fall of the South. These novels contain elements and characteristics similar to those of the south after the Civil War. Faulkner symbolizes the fall of the south throughout his novel The Sound and the Fury by illustrating how the male characters are weaker than the female characters. Jason Compson III, the father of the Compson family, is considered a weak character due to flaws in his personality. Although he is the head of the Compson family, he is not a strong enough fatherly figure to prevent the family’s downfall. Mr. Compson is an indifferent father and lacks compassion towards his children. Instead of being supportive and loving Mr. Compson is an ironic and pessimistic man. In one instance, Mr. Compson tells his son Quentin “bad health is the primary reason for all life. Created by disease, with putrefaction, into decay” (#). The advice he gives his children is cynical as well. When Quentin tries to help his sister Caddy, Mr. Compson states “no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools” (#). Mr.

He has a craving to be wealthy. This leads him to embezzle over fifty-thousand dollars from Caddy and her daughter, Miss Quentin, which he spends on the cotton market and on a prostitute in Memphis. When Miss Quentin asks where the money went, Jason won’t admit to stealing the money, stating “ask her what became of those checks. You saw her burn one of them, as I remember” (#). Jason also has a terrible temper. He is angered easily, especially by Miss Quentin, and he often yells at other people as a result. When Miss Quentin steals her rightful money from Jason, he is enraged and begins