Extremes? Benjy and Quentin
The narrative of Benjy in April 7th, 1928 and Quentin in June 2nd, 1910 both prove to be tough readings. The difficulty stems from the personalities of the two men; one is as mentally handicapped as the other is inordinately intelligent. Their accounts have strangely similar styles. Their memories tend to take on the form of a long, unexplained run-on; often times both Quentin and Benjy reflect on the same events. They also focus on similar emotions, particularly with regards to Caddy. Both brothers deep attachment to their sister Caddy plays a central role in their lives. While Quentin cannot forget her, or what she has meant (contributing to his death), Benjy cannot quite remember her--just the empty place invoked by the golfers calling their caddies. Order and chaos play a large role as well; Benjy's sensitivity to his changing environment often forces him to tears because he has no other alternative. Quentin is deeply concerned with the Southern code, which makes his accounts as unclear as Benjy's (really more ideal than content). Finally, as absent as time is from Benjy's mind, it dominates Quentin's thoughts, or rather his struggle against time.
Is the similarity between the two brought on by their Compson heritage? Does it seem like Faulkner is trying to point out something between the two brothers? Could he be putting them together as suffering the same malady, but by different names?
2 comments:
These two passages are difficult to get through which is why these two characters are so intriguing to us. I do believe that the two characters are connected but not by their heritage. I believe that they are connected by Caddy. She seems to be the link in both of their chapters. And also Jason is not the same as them which makes me think that they are connected by Caddy. I do believe that Faulkner does this on purpose to show the significance of Caddy in their lives. They seem to react to the changes her life as much as she does. I do believe that they are suffering the same malady, they wanted Caddy to stay pure and innocent and they did not want her to go away. Once they realize that their little sister is gone, they kind of let go.
While both Quentin and Benjy are greatly attached to Caddy, their attachments are founded in different emotions. Benjy's attachment stems from Caddy's comforting effect on Benjy, and he departure disrupts his routine. Quentin's attachment stems from his incestuous love for Caddy. While Quentin never crosses the line with Caddy, his adoration for her extends beyond normal familial limits. Quentin's attachment is more about societal judgement of Caddy rather than the selfish needs of Benjy's attachment.
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