The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Review by Sam Sørensen

“Because Father said clocks slay time. He said time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life.”

At the risk of being cliché for recommending a classic novel, hear me out! This novel truly proves captivatingly timeless. The novel explores the Compson family, consumed by their reputation, in Mississippi over the span of three decades. Time is not linear—it’s relative—and Faulkner mixes narrative styles. Faulkner breaks the book into four chapters; the first three describe reality from the perspective of each Compson brother: Benjy, Quentin, and Jason. Benjy establishes reality as simple and unbiased, due to a mental handicap. Quentin struggles with intelligence and a tormenting depression. Jason relays his straightforward, no nonsense mentality; he is consumed by his drive for affluence. The last presents a third person point of view, and all of them focus on relationships with their sister, Caddy. The intricacies of each personality, so carefully crafted, all work together flawlessly to create this tragically stunning novel.

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About the reviewer: Sam Sørensen has worked for TPL as a circulation assistant since 2013. She usually only enjoys classic literature if it’s one of her boys: Walt Whitman, James Joyce, or William Faulkner.