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The Sound and the Fury - Representation of Cultural Change Essay

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The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner, is an excellent representation of culture change in America during the 1920s. The interaction between the Black servants and their white employers portray a sense of the feeling that the South was going through because they knew that times were changing, aristocracy was slowly diminishing and Modernism was rapidly rising. One of the strongest characters in the novel is Dilsey, who narrates the last part of the novel. She is represented as a grandmother figure, a black servant to the Compson family. Dilsey was present when the Compson family rose to power and remains during their downward spiral. Dilsey also represents a deeper meaning for the novel, she represents the modern era which is …show more content…

Dilsey is not at all scared of him and even when Mrs. Compson says he is the head of the house, with a tart reply Dilsey responds that there is no use in waking Miss. Quentin up just to suit him. Dilsey knows that the house will not run smoothly if not for her and how heavily they all depend upon her to keep things in order at the Compson household. Going further back in the novel to Jason’s section, there is a situation where Jason is about to strike Miss. Quentin with his belt for misbehaving (not going to school, lying to her grandmother, not listening to anyone). Dilsey cuts right in and interferes Jason before he is about to strike her. She is not a bit scared at all and stands right in front Jason looking him in the eye and challenging him to hit her [p.98]. The fact that she could do that and get away with it is a sure sign of some sort of cultural change and boundary breaking between ‘Blacks’ and ‘Whites’. Dilsey takes her duty very seriously and regardless of being ill treated she stays loyal to the Compson family. This shows a cultural breach because Dilsey is black and during that time period, they were considered inferior. Considering how Dilsey stood up for Miss. Quentin when Jason was about to strike her, not only shows her authoritative role but also shows her maternal love for her, and all of the Compson children included. Dilsey sort of replaces the role of

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