Caroline Compson's Obsession with Appearance ib the Sound and the Fury

A detailed Summary of Caroline Compson's Obsession with Appearance ib the Sound and the Fury


In William Faulkner's novel, The Sound and the Fury, Caroline Compson focused directly upon appearances. Mrs. Compson never allowed herself to forget that her family wasn't as good as her husband's. Marrying into a higher class altered her perception of society. She searched for the acquisition of material objects in her life, always afraid of how others looked upon her family. Mrs. Compson cared more for appearances than for reality. Her obsession with sounds and appearance greatly altered the life of her children. She shifted her responsibilities as a mother onto the black housekeeper Dilsey, because she was unable to handle the appearance of her own family.

Mrs. Compson felt a great burden placed upon her life after the birth of her fourth child Benjy. At birth Benjy appeared normal, though he never fully mentally developed. When Mrs. Compson learned of her sons disability her entire life shattered. She wondered how anyone could accept her or her son now. The mother's obsession with sound and appearances led to the following,

"Reckon Maury going to let me cry on

him a while, too. His name is Benjy


better name for him than Maury was."(Faulkner 58)

Mrs. Compson forced her children into the arms of Dilsey because she could not see past the appearance of things.

came out of the bible, Caddy said. It's a

a preliminary sound as if it had

Dilsey, I forbid you ever to speak

that she had a mother, I would

acres is no high price for a fine sound.

now, Caddy said. How come it is,

Dilsey said. He aint wore out the name



Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1713
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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