A Structruralistic Probe To The Disintegration Of The Compson Family

This study makes a probe into the disintegration of the Compson family of, William Faulkner's novel-he Sound and the Fury.To achieve this goal, at the beginning of the study, it discusses the issue of methodology, In part one of Chapter Two, it analyzes firstly the most frequently employed technique of stream of consciousness-uxtaposition. On the basis of this analysis, it then points out that the most suitable method to carry out the study is Literary Semiotics, a distinguished branch of French Structuralism, with A.J, Greimas being its spokesman. Part one also makes a brief introduction of Structuralism and the Theory of Semiotic Matrix since they are still not very familiar to many Chinese readers. In part two of Chapter Two, by fixing the Compson family members in semiotic matrix (I), the surface structure of the story takes form.Reflected in matrix (I) are conflicts in the Compson family that take on various forms: incompatible mental traits, polarized life creed, colliding interest, temperamental disparity and so on. Chapter Three analyzes the main domestic conflicts, i.e. Caddy vs. Benjy, Caddy vs. Quentin, and Caddy vs. Jason, and Chapter Four analyzes the subsidiary ones, i.e. Dilsey vs. the Compsons and Caddy vs. Miss Quentin.In Chapter Five, semiotic matrix (I) is epitomized with the result of semiotic matrix (II) which illustrates the deep-lying structure of the work. Analysis of the binary oppositions in matrix (II) proves that moral crisis prevails in the family and the positive force is not powerful enough to drive it out of the crisis. It is for this reason that the dissolution of the Compson family is unavoidable.