Folklore in The Sound and the Fury

The JSTOR article I chose is entitled Faulkner’s Use of Folklore in The Sound and the Fury by Charles D. Peavy Learning about the folkloric ideas in the novel enhanced my understanding of the novel, particularly in the convoluted presentation of the Benji section.

Peavy cites numerous instances of folklore in The Sound and the Fury, but the one that was most enlightening was the Faulkner’s symbolic use of jimson weed. Benji comes in contact with jimson weed more than any of the other Compsons. Each of these contacts Benji has with jimson weed reveals something different and meaningful.

At the beginning of The Sound and the Fury, when Faulkner first describes other people’s interactions with Benji, he is crying. In order to divert his attention and make him stop crying, Benji is given jimson weed. It is surprising that Benji’s caretakers supply a mentally challenged child with a potentially dangerous substance; jimson weed is poisonous.

Faulkner’s use of jimson weed as a symbol of poison is reinforced in the last section, when Benji’s jimson weed flowers are stored in an old poison bottle. In addition, jimson weed has a distinctive smell. Throughout the novel, Faulkner shows that Benji is particularly aware of different smells, such as Caddy’s perfumes. Peavy’s explanations contribute another layer of meaning to Faulkner’s use of jimson weed. Folklore holds that jimson weed has been seen as a symbol of sexuality. Associating Benji with a symbol of sexuality highlights a dreadful disparity. Benji has been castrated.

Peavy explains the use of another folklore symbol which points to another disparity. At the time of the novel, the cornflower was also called “Innocence.” Faulkner describes Benji’s eyes as “corn flower blue.” Peavy argues that Benji is the only character who is untouched by good and evil, because he does not know what good and evil are.

On this point, I disagree with Peavy. Although Benji may not know Webster’s definition of “Good and evil,” he is definitely aware of when things are bad. Benji forces Caddy to wash after she has been with a boy. This demonstrates that Benji is aware that Caddy is no longer pure.

In the context of Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, I would make a distinction between the concept of “Unaware,” and “Blameless.” I would characterize Benji as aware, but blameless. And in this sense, Benji is innocent.

Before understanding the meaning of the folklore symbols in The Sound and the Fury, I was missing some of the richness and depth to the novel.

(422)

Faulkner's Use of Folklore in The Sound and the Fury
Charles D. Peavy
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 79, No. 313 (Jul. - Sep., 1966), pp. 437-447
Published by: University of Illinois Press on behalf of American Folklore Society