Personally, the ending to The Sound and the Fury was disappointing in a number of ways, the main being that Caddy was not the one to narrate the final chapter. She is perhaps the most important character in the whole story, yet she did not even get a chance to speak. And it was also a little boring to find out nothing after Miss Quentin's leaving, though it is implied that the Compson's name has been irreversibly tarnished.
An interesting thing about the ending is that it takes place on Easter Sunday, a day representative of Christ's resurrection, and overall hope. That certainly made me think as it seems a bit more than coincidence that this chapter just happened to take place then. Really, the only main hope left in the family is Dilsey, as she presents strong, moral values unlike any other member of the Compson family. It is a bit ironic, that a black servant in the heart of the deep south is the only merit left to this prestigious white family.
I agree that it was frustrating that Caddy didn't get to narrate, but I think that it was critical that she didn't. It was aggravating, but I think that was that of it, to leave the readers slightly annoyed, disapointed, and wanting more, while still liking the book. I also agree that the Compson family is irreversibly tarnished, and some of that is lost as Caddy leaves.
ReplyDeleteI agree that not having a chapter for Caddy was frustrating but I think the ending was very interesting and a great way to end such an eccentric novel. Dilsey is seen as the savior of the family but really the ruined savor and the one that is incapable of saving the family is Benjy. Its not his fault that he can't help the family but he is the "savior" I think thats why his birthday falls on the day that it does and the importance of him being such a focal point of the last chapter.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the endin was frustrating. However, I think Faulkner did it intentionally. He didn't give us the ending in most of the characters stories so that we would have to come up with it ourselves. I also think it would have been cool to have Caddy narrate a chapter, but maybe Faulkner just didn't want to spoil her character for the reader and leave her personality up in the air.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the ending was very disappointing, but I believe that we could have seen a boring ending coming from the events in the book. It was also very frustrating that we where never able to hear from Caddy and why she ran away from the family in the first place. I think this would have been very helpful in clearing up a number of mysteries within the book.
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