"The Sound and the Fury" : A Simple Summary

The Sound and the Fury is about the Compson family, who used to be rich and respected but are now falling apart. The story is told by four people. First is Benjy, a man with a mental disability, who remembers the past and misses his sister Caddy very much. Then comes Quentin, his older brother, who goes to Harvard but is very sad and confused because Caddy broke the family’s rules. He cannot handle it and ends his life. Next is Jason, the third brother, who is angry, selfish, and only cares about money. He treats Caddy’s daughter badly. The last part of the story is told from the view of Dilsey, the family’s kind and strong servant. Even though the family is falling apart, she stays loyal and keeps doing what is right. The story shows how time, change, and sadness can break a family, but it also shows the quiet strength of someone who keeps going no matter what.

Here’s what happened to Caddy:

Caddy was a caring and loving sister, especially to Benjy. But as she grew up, she started to break the rules of her strict Southern family. She had a baby outside of marriage, which brought shame to the family, especially in their eyes. Her father arranged a marriage to another man, but that didn’t last long. After that, Caddy was forced to leave the family home, and she was not allowed to raise her daughter, Miss Quentin. The family raised the child instead—mostly Jason, who treated her very badly.

Because of what happened, each brother reacts differently:

• Benjy misses her deeply and doesn’t understand why she left.

• Quentin is obsessed with protecting her honor and feels so guilty and confused that he ends his own life.

• Jason becomes angry and blames her for ruining the family.

So, Caddy's story is one of love, loss, and rejection. She never speaks in the book, but everything that happens seems to revolve around her.