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The Role Of Caddy In The Sound And The Fury

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The Sound and The Fury (TSATF) by William Faulkner revolves around the rise and fall of the Compson family. We witness the events that unfold through the eyes and mind of the Compson sons by the use of monologues and stream of consciousness. Throughout the novel there is one character that is present yet absent in the lives of the Compsons: Candice Compson. William Faulkner described Caddy as his “heart’s darling”, yet he did not allow Caddy a voice in the novel. Although we are not able to hear her side of the story; it is clear that Caddy is the center of the novel. Some critics have argued about the relevance and importance of Caddy as a character in the novel, however, analyzing the role of Caddy in each of her brothers lives can demonstrate that she is the driving force of the action of the novel. One critic claimed, “This is not a novel about Caddy, despite Faulkner’s claims, but about her brother’s responses to her, about how men deal with women and sexuality.” (Clarke, 20) It is easy to see the novel as an account of the demise of the Compson family, however, the reason for this fall cannot be dismissed. That reason being Caddy. TSATF can be seen as a novel centered around a young girl’s coming of age story through the eyes of her brothers. The importance of Caddy as a character is defined by the mere fact that she serves as a catalyst for the brothers life changing events. Each brother provides a different perspective of the influence she has on the family and

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