Oh Jason. . . . The chapter narrated by Jason Compson in The Sound and the Fury was hard to read. Not because it used complex words or structure, not because it didn't make sense, but because Jason is one of the most bigoted, sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic narrators that I've ever come across. While I understand that Jason narrated a long time ago (a time in which civil rights had not been passed, where women had only recently gotten the vote, and where much of the nation was anti-Semitic). But still. For those of us who grew up in the 21st century, Jason's chapter is hard to read. Jason is a jerk, a bully, a manipulator, a power-monger, and an all-around bad person. I suppose, though, I can't make those accusations without evidence. I'll discuss a few of the grossest examples of Jason's bad character.
On the second page of Jason's chapter, he says to his mother about his niece Quentin, "When people act like n----s, no matter who they are the only thing to do is treat them like a n----r" (Faulkner pg. 114). Right off the bat, Jason proves he is both racist and in favor of beating his niece—I'd say that that alone makes a person a jerk. I will, however, provide more examples.
Only a few pages later, Quentin tells Jason, "I'd rather be in hell than anywhere where you are" (pg. 119). This quote is very telling about Jason's character—Quentin believes he is worse than the devil. While Quentin is biased against Jason, I would still argue that a statement that power has to be based somewhat in truth.
Much later in the chapter, there is a scene in which Jason burns tickets to a show in the oven. Luster, Jason's African American servant, begged for one of them, but he couldn't produce the five cents that Jason demanded (this scene occurs on page 159). Jason would rather destroy something than give it to someone who desperately wants it for free. If that behavior doesn't classify someone as a jerk, then I don't know what does.
It'll be incredibly interesting to see what Dilsey says in the next chapter—after all, while she lives on the same estate as the Compson family, she is somewhat of an outside observer. Hopefully she will clarify the mysteries of the novel.
It was very interesting that you said the Jason chapter was hard to read because it goes against every moral attitude we have been taught in the 20th century. I wonder if the people of Jason’s time would have looked at Jason the same way as we do. Or, was his racist and sexist attitude the social norm during that time? Your comment on the Quentin’s quote about Jason being the devil also caught my attention. Maybe Jason symbolizes evil. He could represent every temptation to sin that humanity encounters in everyday situations. He could symbolize the evils of stealing, cheating, holding prejudices, and many more!
ReplyDeletegreat job, interesting detail about Quentin's comment
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