In terms of the entire novel, Quentin has told this story of Sutpen and his sons as a result of Shreve’s inquiry as to the nature of the South. The logical implication is that Sutpen’s story is in some ways representative of the South. As stated in the introduction, Sutpen […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 9

A large portion of the chapter is devoted to examining the figure of Charles Bon and this examination is narrated mainly by Shreve. Bon becomes a pivotal figure in that the collapse of Sutpen design is directly related to Bon’s actions. In actuality, however, the large section of this chapter […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 8

To Miss Rosa, Sutpen was ultimately a pure demon. To Mr. Compson, Sutpen was a victim of a hostile universe and proof that man cannot control his own destiny. But to Quentin, he represented many of the events and many of the glories of the past combined with many of […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7

The confusion of the narration, however, lies partially in the fact that Faulkner narrates part of the chapter as omniscient author, and also allows parts to be narrated by Mr. Compson, and by Shreve McCannon, who is first introduced in this chapter. As Faulkner shifts the setting from Mississippi to […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6

This chapter presents two crucial problems. First, if Miss Rosa really thought of Sutpen as being this demonic ogre, why did she agree to marry him? Secondly, how did his request so adversely affect Miss Rosa that she decided to become a recluse the rest of her life? In our […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5

Whereas previously Mr. Compson’s narration served to complete or fill in certain aspects of the Sutpen myth, this chapter heads in another direction. We later find out that most of the opinions expressed in this chapter, or most of the things reported, are later proved to be either false or […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4

In this chapter Faulkner is continuing to fill in certain aspects of his myth, allowing for variant interpretations and also presenting further aspects of the same story with additional details. Some of these details are not presented as fact but only as speculations. For example, could Sutpen have meant to […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 3

This chapter, more so than the first one, illustrates one aspect of Faulkner’s narrative technique: Faulkner will, throughout the book, present Sutpen mainly from the viewpoint of other people. We seldom see Sutpen directly, and this method of circumlocution — of presenting the main character through indirection — aids in […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 2

Of the many difficulties, the Faulknerian style is one of the major hindrances for the student unfamiliar with the Faulknerian diction. Another difficulty lies in determining what character is narrating certain aspects of the story, or when Faulkner as omniscient author begins narrating as opposed to one of the characters […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 1

Thomas Sutpen The son of a poor mountain farmer who founded the Sutpen estate. Henry Sutpen The son of Thomas and Ellen Coldfield Sutpen and heir to the Sutpen Hundred estate. Judith Sutpen Henry’s strong and determined sister who falls in love with Charles Bon. Clytie (Clytemnestra) “Sutpen” The mulatto […]

Read more Character List