The Compson Brothers and Their Relationships with Caddy
The Jason section begins with the quote "Once a bitch always a bitch I say." This comment introduces the reader to Jason's views on women, and the attitude and disrespect he holds for almost everybody in his life. This attitude is in stark contrast with that of Quentin's, who was very concerned with the treatment of women and held hostility for anybody who disrespected them. Whereas Caddy symbolizes honor for Quentin, for Jason she means a lost future and a ruined life. Jason seems to project that onto Miss Quentin, who I believe Jason blames for everything that has gone wrong with his future. It's interesting to compare the treatment of Caddy between the two brothers, as Benjy found his only comfort in her, Quentin loved her strongly and wanted to protect her, and Jason simply despises her. What are your opinions of Jason? Do you believe his emotionally damaging past is an excuse for his behavior? What message do you think Faulkner was trying to send by contrasting the lives and thoughts of these brothers?
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In the end, Jason's bitterness about life comes directly from two things. His contempt for Caddy and Miss Quentin, which comes from his losing a chance at a job because of them and his obsession with money which arose from the supposed favoritism towards Quentin that his parents play by selling part of the fields for his education. In essence, Jason might think the whole world is out to get him, which is evident by his conspiracy theories about the stock market. This bitterness, however justified it may be, seems to make Jason a character that Faulkner uses to show how detestable a bitter man can be.
Well all three brothers were written about because of their view of Caddy. She is obviously the center piece of each of their lives, yet in different ways. I think that Jason is so bitter because he was babied as a child and his siblings never related to him. Benjy, Quentin, and Caddy were all pretty much dispised compared to Jason. I believe that they might have felt animosity towards him for taking their mothers love. While his obsession with Caddy led him to feel disrespect and hatred, Quentin and Benjy feel honor and love. This is also why Jason feels less like the others.
I feel that the feelings that each of the brothers feel towards Caddy can, to some extent, be attributed to the lack of a strong maternal figure in their lives. It is important to note that one of the formative experiences in their lives was Dadamuddy's funeral. At the funeral, Caddy is forced to rise above each of the brothers, both metaphorically and literally, in the tree. This is due to the fact that, because of the loss of one maternal figure in Dadamuddy and the negligence of Caroline, the brothers begin to hold Caddy up as the feminine standard. She becomes not merely their sister, but also their mother. Thus, care for Caddy takes a far more central role in the story than does care for any brother in particular.
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