• Informal Diction
• High Diction
• Brusque Diction
• Coarse Diction
• Southern Vernacular
The switching of diction throughout The Sound and the Fury emphasizes the already transient tone of the novel which switches from view point as the stream of consciousness method of writing is used. The tone switches equally with the view point, as each member of the house hold has a different attitude to the world, and consequently a different tone. The most difficult tone to understand was Benjamin’s, as he is a mentally handicapped person, and therefore has no exterior dialogue to judge by. Furthermore, the rhetor seems to avoid having Benjamin do anything which would show a definite stance on an issue. From this I concluded that the tone of the Benjamin section is indifference, because Benjamin is unable to develop his own opinion.
The tone of the Quentin passage is abstract, as seen from the continual questioning of time and what time should be judged and how it should be used. However, Quentin also begins to show a more frantic tone as his view progresses, with the climax being his eventual suicide. Jason seems to simply hate people, and the tone is malice during his viewpoint, as Jason does not hold anybody in any view except contempt and scorn. The final passage of the novel has a narrator who does not so much take a stance as show the events as they unfold in an omnipotent manner.
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While Benjamin's tone was definitely the most difficult to comprehend because of his handicap, I do not think the rhetor avoids having Benjamin have any stance whatsoever. Throughout the novel, Benjy shows a preference for Caddy, his sister, and her soothing and comforting presence, demonstrating that he does have some sort of stance when it comes to interacting with is family members. She is the only person that he feels something with, because his brothers, and even his mother don't treat him kindly, and in a way, resent his existence. I believe that Benjamin does form his own opinion about his sister, even though it is very elementary and it seems like he is indifferent because of his mental condition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that the unique thing about the novel was the fact that each chapter had different diction because it was in the point of view of different characters that had drastically different personalities and mindsets. The transition between each character may not have been explicitly stated, and without the help of novel guides like SparkNotes, Faulkner's purpose with the delivery of the novel might have been very difficult to find.
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