Wow, Faulkner sure does love some confusion... ending the last chapter nearly one day after the first. (Though of coarse not told in chronological order). As much as I hated being confused throughout most of the book, I actually enjoyed some of the confusion because it kept me engaged with the overall story. While reading each story I would always have numerous questions swirling around in my head that I wanted to ask Faulkner. Too bad he passed away nearly 35 years before I was born, but that's besides the point! Getting back to business, I did enjoy Dilsey's chapter, and the clarity within the writing. Although Faulkner chose to make the beginning of the book quite confusing, I enjoyed how he chose to end the last chapter with more clarity than others.
Clarity is shown in this last chapter as two things are suggested for the Compson family's future. The first is that although the story ends with the completion of the families downfall, the simple fact that it takes place on Easter Sunday signifies hope, and secondly redemption. Faulkner leaves us with the idea that though the family has nearly hit rock bottom, their future remains bright.
Overall, I think Faulkner put the chapters in this order to show us as the reader that people have different interpretations of the same events. One of the largest details I realized when reading The Sound and The Fury was that personality and mental state had the largest role in telling sequential events. If Jason wasn't as vulgar, his interpretations of others would've been drastically altered. Where as also Benjy's mental state had an enormous role toward his interpretation of events. Personally, I believe Faulkner's tale told 4 times signifies that writing is always told in a bias. Though Faulkner told many stories about the Old South vs. New South etc. the main idea throughout the story is the unique storytelling which is emphasized throughout the entire book.
After finishing Jason's chapter, irony quickly came to mind! Finally we get a character who is not as difficult to understand, yet his thoughts are ones we don't want to interpret! Jason makes his thoughts raw and blunt. His strong opinions and selfish attitude make him an egotistical character. This is seen specifically when Jason complains about how he didn't get to go to Harvard when he quotes himself and says "I never had time to go to Harvard or drink myself into the ground (114). " In this sentence Jason is referring to the fact that Quentin got all the opportunities in their family and Jason is jealous of this. This passage also goes on to demonstrate how Jason is very focused on what others think of him. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Jason chooses to criticize others so harshly; because he is so insecure himself. Jason appears to be anti-semitic, racist, and sexist.
Below are quotes where each are seen within Jason's writing:
Anti-Semitic
"'I have nothing against Jews as an individual,' I says. 'It's just the race. You'll admit they produce nothing. They follow the pioneers into a new country and sell them clothes (120). '"
(quotes himself)
Racist
"'We'll just put this off a while. But don't think you can run it over me. I'm not an old woman, nor an old half dead nigger, either. You dam little slut,' I says (117)."
(quotes himself)
Sexist against women
"She was old she couldn't do any more than move hardly. But that's all right: we need somebody in the kitchen to eat up the grub the young ones can't tote off (116)."
