Jason Compson IV, Can Go Straight to Hell...

...at least as far as this reader is concerned. He is by far the most frustrating and confusing character I have encountered thus far in the novel. In his appendix to the novel, Faulkner described Jason as "the first sane Compson since before Culloden," but I simply cannot find any explanation for the way he behaves. Quentin (the eldest son), with his impotence, obsession, and suicide, is more comprehensible to me. Raised in a constantly backward-looking Southern aristocratic family, he has been ingrained with a conflicting idea of "family honor" since birth, pulled in one direction by his overbearing and hysterical mother and in the other by his cynical, disillusioned father. His position as the first-born son makes this burden all the heavier on his shoulders. His mental breakdown is a clear consequence of the destruction of his worldview.

Similarly, one can understand Caddy's downfall. Though we never actually enter into her viewpoint, a clear composite of her character emerges from her brothers' perspectives. She is similar to Quentin in her internal conflict between the grip of a dying South and the beckoning of a new modern world. She, however, is able to succeed (at least more than Quentin) in adapting to modernity, even though it costs her her family. While she does not ever seem entirely happy with the path she has taken, she has at least gained autonomy from antiquated mores and forged her own identity. Her sexual promiscuity is a reasonable attempt to liberate herself from the extreme repression of her family, particularly her mother.

Benjy is, of course, the most understandable character, despite his mental handicap. He has been given no choice about the way he is, and thus draws the most empathy from the reader. His relationship with Caddy seems to be the only meaningful and real relationship that occurs within the entire Compson family. The only character that rivals Benjy in understanding and compassion is Dilsey. However, I would argue he surpasses Dilsey in exactly how he perceives and understands those around him: he is directed by no notions of what he thinks or has been told is "right" or "wrong," but rather responds to the hurt and pain of those he loves.

But how does Jason fit into all of this? He clearly hates every one around him, and makes no bones about indicating it. In his own thoughts he expresses some kind of pity and affection for his mother, but he seems to create this feelings in order to justify his malicious and devious behavior. Quentin and Mr. Compson were both disillusioned by a modern world in which their values seem to have no place, but Jason doesn't seem to have ever had any values whatsoever. He is guided solely by his warped sense of pride and ambition. I can't find any correlation between his behavior and the downfall of Caddy, which seems to bring so much pain and destruction to the other Compsons.

The only explanation I can come up with so far is perhaps he fits into a large scheme of Faulkner's to illustrate the deterioration of the old South. Quentin, the oldest, has a mental breakdown and commits suicide. Caddy transgresses moral boundaries, engaging in sexual promiscuity, but these could also be called a breakdown of social relationships: she feels regret in having caused pain for Benjy and her father, but cannot not become an independent woman, contrary to old Southern values. Benjy would obviously be a complete breakdown of mental, social, and physical norms, but I would hate to describe Benjy as a symbol of deterioration, seeing as he is one of the few characters in the novel with any sense of compassion. All of this would leave Jason as the picture of social deterioration, being completely unable to function cooperatively within society. He has no real relationships with anyone and cannot seem to actually see people as they are. But then, can anyone (except Benjy and Dilsey) in the novel really see anyone else?

But I'm totally over 500 words now, and on the verge of rambling, so I'll leave the rest to be sorted out in class.