The Sound and the Fury

William Faulkner’s novel of the decline of the Compson family of Jefferson, Mississippi, told in four sections: by the brothers Benjy, Quentin and Jason, and in the last by the author, centred on the family’s Black servant Dilsey.

Start reading13 sections, about 97,000 words

Famous quotes

• Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting.

  April Seventh, 1928 (1 of 3)In context

• I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

  June Second, 1910 (1 of 4)In context

  • Failure
  • Time

• Christ was not crucified: he was worn away by a minute clicking of little wheels.

  June Second, 1910 (1 of 4)In context

  • Christianity
  • Time

• Clocks slay time. … Time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life.

  “June Second, 1910”In context

  • Time

• A man is the sum of his misfortunes. One day you’d think misfortune would get tired, but then time is your misfortune

  June Second, 1910 (2 of 4)In context

  • Luck
  • Time

• It might have been all time and injustice and sorrow become vocal for an instant by a conjunction of planets.

  April Eighth, 1928 (1 of 2)In context

  • Justice

Contents

1. April Seventh, 1928 (1 of 3)
2. April Seventh, 1928 (2 of 3)
3. April Seventh, 1928 (3 of 3)
4. June Second, 1910 (1 of 4)
5. June Second, 1910 (2 of 4)
6. June Second, 1910 (3 of 4)
7. June Second, 1910 (4 of 4)
8. April Sixth, 1928 (1 of 4)
9. April Sixth, 1928 (2 of 4)
10. April Sixth, 1928 (3 of 4)
11. April Sixth, 1928 (4 of 4)
12. April Eighth, 1928 (1 of 2)
13. April Eighth, 1928 (2 of 2)