A Study On The Rationality Of The Time Structure In The Sound And The Fury

William Faulkner is more than simply a renowned Mississippi writer. The Nobel Prize-winning novelist and short story writer is acclaimed throughout the world as one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. The Sound and the Fury is William Faulkner's fourth novel, and considered to be his finest work.This thesis investigates the rationality of the time structure in the Sound and the Fury. Firstly, it examines Faulkner's unique writing style using the theory of narrative time in narratology. Secondly, the three brothers are analyzed in terms of their relationship with the rationality of the time structure. Each of the Compson brothers understands order and chaos in a different way. Benjy constructs order around the pattern of familiar memories in his mind. Quentin relies on his idealized Southern code to provide order. Jason orders everything in his world based on personal gain, attempting to twist all circumstances to his own advantage. As a consequence, the Compson family is plunged into chaos. Finally, the relationship between the rationality of the time structure and the theme of the novel is analyzed to reveal the economic, spiritual and even physical decline of the Compson family. This theme is presented by the decay of the character, Caddy, who is the center of the three brothers' memories.