| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 外國語文研究所 === 89 === Abstract
This thesis aims to clarify and confirm Benjy’s existence in The Sound and the Fury. Faulkner had created numerous distinct characters and Benjy is one of them. We observe Benjy’s existence from his name, from the manners he knows and expresses, from the Compsons’ sense of responsibility for him respectively in chapter one, two and three.
First, we elaborate the idea that a name is a man’s true existence. We know the person Maury and Benjy from the name Maury and Benjy. Benjy’s former name, Maury, tells us Benjy’s association with Uncle Maury, and his new name, Benjy, reveals the Compsons’ intention of giving new personality to Benjy and of blessing him. Since the Compsons take the name Benjamin from the Bible, we compare Benjy with biblical Joseph and Benjy with biblical Benjamin. The biblical Joseph might be the prototype of Benjy in Faulkner’s mind. Being immensely favored by his father, Jacob, results in his brothers’ conspiracy against him. Yet, he is prosperous in Egypt at the end. Joseph has a coat of many colors and he can interpret dreams. By comparison, Benjy is fascinated with colorful objects and possesses a “sixth sense” which allows him to know something instinctively. The biblical Benjamin, like Benjy, does not say any word in the Bible.
Then, we describe Benjy’s remarkable “sixth sense,” through which Benjy knows by smelling and seeing. Benjy is extraordinary in that he “misuses” his senses to fully utilize them. He smells cold, sickness, and death. Visually, he is attracted to bright and dark colors, such as fire and shadow. Apart from that, the significance of light and dominance of the present time in Benjy’s mind help define his concept of objects. After that, we go on to deal with Benjy’s desire to express and how he expresses. He bellows, whimpers and wails.
Finally, we propose to view Benjy’s existence in the eyes of the Compsons from how they choose to take responsibility for him. Existentially, Caddy, Luster and Dilsey live in “good faith,” choosing to act for Benjy. Mr. Compson and Quentin are incapable of acting for Benjy, striving to escape their responsibility. Mrs. Compson and Jason act; nevertheless, they choose to obliterate Benjy’s existence by changing him.
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