"That Evening Sun Go Down" follows the same fractured time frame as Faulkner's other works, in particular, that unique and often dizzying timeline that is employed in all tales of the Compson family. The story begins in the present, which is not a place the reader returns to. The title refers to an evening which we find out later on is in the past, yet the title itself could allude to the future or the past. The setting goes back and forth like the sun goes up and down, the present exists and then doesn't, the past exists and then doesn't. Similarly other elements in the story exist and then cease to exist. Immediately I knew that this was an important theme in this short story. In several instances Faulkner describes things as being and not being, such as, "she said she was ... she said she wasn't" or "it was like singing and it wasn't like singing." The theme uniting the aforementioned provides a circular realm wherein the story can take place. Perhaps it is even linear, yet, in a nonconventional way. In this story, if we were to perceive it as employing a linear pattern in the way that I am speaking of, the pattern is one that goes back and forth, i guess slightly similar to that of a ping pong game. The back and forth motion can be representative of two opposing forces, that of good and that of evil--both inherent in human actions and intentions. The characters in this story walk the line between, under, and above these realms, wobbling from side to side. Each character is distinguished by their placement amid the good and evil forces. I believe that Nancy, a "hell-born" Negro, is representative of this struggle. Her character embodies fear, unease and anticipation. Caddy, particularly when persuaded by Nancy, demonstrates human weakness in the face of temptation whereas Jason's character mimics both Caddy and Nancy at the same time. He is both fearful and tempted to act in discordance with his intuition because of Caddy's heckling. Jubah, is the devil waiting outside, whether there or not there his presence does not cease and it is feared by all characters except for Mr. Compson whom I have yet to fully comprehend in terms of my analysis thus far.
I am interested to see how people viewed Mr. Compson.. That is, what role does he play in this story? What is he representative of in your perspective?? Does he contribute to my argument?
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Pops Compson seems like a good father to me. I say this in the most equivocal way; he is a good father at the expense of everything else. He knows Nancy's peril and Jubah's threat, and his primary interest is in keeping his children and his family out of it.
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