A Fallen Woman : The Constructed Importance of Virginity in. William Faulkner s The Sound and the Fury

Transcription

1 A Fallen Woman : The Constructed Importance of Virginity in William Faulkner s The Sound and the Fury Dr. John McIntyre English 351 American Modernism The University of Prince Edward Island December 2016

2 2 William Faulkner s novel, The Sound and the Fury, explores the sexual discourses of the virtuous South in America. Through the character of Candice (Caddy) Compson, Faulkner illustrates the ways in which virginity was both constructed and criticized in the virtuous South, and how it affects Caddy s social status and familial relationships. Some critics, like Margaret D. Bauer, argue that Caddy s virginity affects not only her, but that her virginity is also the symbol of their family s honour (Bauer 70). From this perspective, Caddy s loss of virginity before marriage is to blame for the destruction of the Compson family s honour. Each member of the family particularly Caddy s father Jason, her mother Caroline, and her younger brother Quentin reacts strongly, yet differently, to the loss of Caddy s virginity. These particular family members bear strong opinions that ultimately result in Caddy s alienation from the family. It is through this alienation that Faulkner elucidates the socially constructed importance of premarital virginity in the South during this time. While most of the family is upset and ashamed that Caddy lost her virginity, her father, Jason Compson, is almost indifferent toward the situation. Jason claims that the importance of virginity is socially constructed, and further highlights the double standard regarding the virginity of men compared to women: In the South [men] are ashamed of being a virgin. Boys. Men. They lie about it. Because it means less to women, Father said. He said it was men invented virginity not women (Faulkner 78). Jason introduces the idea that virginity is invented by men, reiterating that the importance of virginity is completely constructed. Jason also says that men typically lie about the status of their virginity because they are ashamed if they have not lost it. On the other hand, women are typically belittled and criticized if they are unmarried and lose their virginity. These double standards reinforce the idea that the importance of virginity is socially constructed and that these constructs can be alienating for both genders.

3 3 Jason Compson s thoughts on gender and virginity identify a patriarchy men construct the importance of virginity. Karen E. Waldron addresses this aspect of the text, and argues that Faulkner creates Caddy so that the woman who is fascinating, courageous and sensual can only be imprisoned, desexualized and ultimately silenced by... alienated male desire (Waldron ). Waldron s reference to imprisonment refers to Caddy s alienation after being cast out of the Compson family because she committed a sexual sin. In this context, Caddy must remain out of reach and disembodied so her presence can function as archetype in the masculine psyche of the combined narrative consciousness (Waldron 473). Jason Compson s ideas regarding virginity as an invention go hand-in-hand with Waldron s argument men reinforce the importance of virginity, and therefore alienate women who lose their virginity before marriage. Though Jason does not agree with the prevailing judgments of virginity, he does address and reconstruct these ideas in the novel. He is the only member of the family that does not equate Caddy s loss of virginity with moral degeneracy, and therefore he does not agree with or contribute to her alienation from the family. Contrary to Jason s indifference regarding Caddy s loss of virginity, her brother, Quentin Compson, obsesses over it. Many critics believe that Caddy s loss of virginity is closely linked to Quentin s declining mental health and that the reason for Quentin s suicide at the end of his section is related to his sister s loss of virginity (Bauer 70). While Quentin struggles with the status of his own virginity, he also obsesses and fantasizes about Caddy s virginity to the point of falsely confessing to incest: If we could just have done something so dreadful that they would have fled hell except us. I have committed incest I said father it was I it was not Dalton Ames (Faulkner 79). Through falsely confessing to incest, Quentin demonstrates a desire to keep

4 4 Caddy s sexual sin within the family. This desire to contain and protect his sister is a product of the constructed importance of virginity in the South at this time: Using Quentin s narrative of incestuous desire to bring the theme closer to its cultural and psychological roots in the family a Southern family embedded in the hierarchical structures of power manifested by racial and sexual oppression Faulkner s novel makes the profound point that these structures are inherently destructive, violent, and disempowering. And the reason is their consciousness cannot cope with either the presence or absence of the woman s body. (Waldron 472) In this passage, Waldron highlights the disempowering structures of sexual oppression in the South. These structures are particularly destructive for Quentin they emphasise the importance of virginity, and therefore cause his obsession with Caddy s purity. The structures of sexual oppression are also destructive for Caddy. They alienate her because she loses her virginity before marriage. In Quentin s section of the novel, he also expresses his insecurities about his own virginity: why couldn t it have been me and not her who is unvirgin (Faulkner 78). Here, Faulkner expresses Quentin s desire to take away Caddy s sexual sin and make it his own. Quentin has the most dramatic reaction to Caddy s loss of virginity. He falsely confesses to incest, threatens to kill Dalton Ames, threatens to kill Caddy, and then at the end of his section, kills himself. Through these threats and actions in his section, it is clear that Quentin [cannot] tolerate her growing up and becoming a sexual, embodied woman (Waldron 474). Quentin compares Caddy s loss of virginity to plant life by saying, not virgins like dogwood, milkweed (Faulkner 77). Both of these plants are sexual innuendoes. The leaves of the dogwood flower are white at the base, but gradually turn red at the tip during autumn. The contrast of white and red

5 5 symbolizes the contrast between purity and lust showcased through Caddy s loss of virginity. Milkweed is known for its milky sap, which is a direct reference to the bodily fluids produced during sexual intercourse, implying the loss of virginity. Certain species of milkweed are also known to be toxic. Therefore, Quentin s comparison of the loss of virginity to milkweed indicates that he views Caddy s sexual experiences as toxic. These comparisons demonstrate Quentin s obsession with Caddy s virginity, as he imposes his unnatural perceptions of virginity on the natural world. Caddy s mother, Caroline Compson, exhibits a destructive reaction to Caddy s loss of virginity. When Caddy starts to show signs of mature sexuality at age fifteen, Caroline reacts dramatically and stubbornly: she happened to see one of them kissing Caddy, and all next day she went around the house in a black dress and a veil and even Father couldn t get her to say a word except crying and saying her little daughter was dead (Faulkner 230). Here, Faulkner highlights the socially constructed importance of virginity through Caroline s claim that her little daughter was dead. Later, after Caddy gives birth, Caroline gives her family an ultimatum: Either that name is never to be spoken in [Caddy s daughter s] hearing, or she must go, or I will go. Take your choice (Faulkner 199). In this passage, Caroline refers to Caddy as that name, alienating her from the family. Caroline forces her family to side with her views of Caddy s loss of virginity: a sexual sin that corrupts the Compson family s honour. Throughout the novel, Caroline s opinions of her daughter are repeatedly reinforced. She refers to Caddy as a fallen woman and accuses her of vanity and false pride (Faulkner 220, 261). It is Caroline s opinion that ultimately alienates and isolates Caddy from the Compson family. She refuses to let Caddy near the family after she gives birth and her sin is revealed. Through Caroline s comments and actions, Faulkner shows that Caddy is imprisoned in a

6 6 helplessly ingrown Southern family, [and is] no longer in any kind of productive contact with the social world, she is both cast out and permanently bound to the family ideology by her sexual sin (Waldron 472). Here, Waldron notes that Caddy is cast out of the Compson family because of mother s beliefs and opinions regarding her loss of virginity, which again exemplifies that the importance of virginity is socially constructed. Throughout Faulkner s The Sound and the Fury, Caddy Compson is judged, ridiculed, and alienated from her family due to the premarital loss of her virginity. Faulkner claims that the importance of virginity is socially constructed through Jason Compson s discussion with his son, Quentin. In this conversation, it is clear that Jason does not judge or ridicule Caddy for the loss of her virginity like the other members of her family do; rather, he remains indifferent toward the situation throughout the whole novel. Quentin, on the other hand, obsesses over the state of Caddy s virginity, and expresses strong and extreme views regarding her situation. Many critics argue that Caddy s loss of virginity is what drives him to commit suicide. Therefore, the social constructs regarding the status of a woman s virginity not only alienate Caddy, but also corrupt and kill Quentin. Much like Quentin, Caroline Compson expresses dramatic and obsessive feelings and opinions toward Caddy s sexual acts. To Caroline, Caddy is dead the minute she expresses her maturing sexuality by kissing a boy when she is fifteen. As her sexuality develops, and she loses her virginity before marriage, Caroline s harmful judgments regarding the situation grow stronger and lead up to Caddy s alienation from the family. Caddy s loss of virginity shows both the socially constructed role of virginity in the structures of sexual oppression in the South and that these structures are ultimately disempowering for multiple characters in this novel. Though each member of the Compson family express different opinions regarding Caddy s loss of virginity, they each have strong

7 7 views that elucidate the idea that the importance of virginity is socially constructed. These social constructions are embedded in the culture of the virtuous South and are expressed primarily through Caroline and Quentin s opinions and judgments regarding Caddy s virginity. Therefore, the Compson family s adherence to the socially constructed importance of virginity is what ultimately alienates Caddy from her family.

8 8 Works Cited Bauer, Margaret D. "'I Have Sinned in That I Have Betrayed the Innocent Blood': Quentin's Recognition of his Guilt." The Southern Literary Journal 2 (2000): Academic OneFile. Web. Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury. New York: Vintage, Print. Waldron, Karen E. "Recovering Eve's Consciousness From The Sound And The Fury." Women's Studies 4 (1993): Academic OneFile. Web.