1. Benji's the oldest in his family and is mentally handicapped. Through him I get to hear about the stories and details of his whole family. Through his perspective, although it can be jumpy and different than a basic narration, it's easier to step into his shoes and see how he really thinks. In his family, Benjy is almost seen as a burden sometimes because of his disability and other times is very under appreciated as well. Although many of the characters would believe they see more clearly than Benjy, his point of view proves that wrong. I see as I'm reading that he sees/feels things around him that no one in the Compson family chooses to see.
2. Benjy does need consistency in his life, and does have a strong nostalgia for the past. I think that Benjy is always searching for the Compson's happy times and stronger past. He wants to remember everything that went right in their family. I think he needs a consistent happiness or goodness in his life, because he might know that the future might not be brighter for him or the family. As for the South, he's just trying to behave/remember things the way he's always known. The Southern culture's judgements and actions have given Benjy a reason to fear what comes ahead for him.
3. I definitely think Benjy has a symbolic role. It could be that Benjy's illness symbolize purity and innocence. He's physically adult, but has the mind of a child, and it that way he lives his life with a pure innocence that will always be there. As for being pure, Benjy's thoughts bring out a truthfulness and pureness that no one in the family can keep hold of.
Hey Ronnie! Great blog, girl! I totally agree that it is easy to see what Benjy's primary focuses are on because we get to see things from his point of view. I think that since he says exactly what he sees and feels as it happens, we can see what he is thinking at the time. This is a lot easier to understand than Quentin, because Quentin bounces from one event to another without warning. Benjy, though, uses italics for the past. He also differs from Quentin because Quentin's obsessions kind of cloud his head, and it's hard to focus on the event when they keep getting in the way.
ReplyDeleteI love how you answered #1 it is very true that he is under appreciated. Do you think Benjy fits in the southern culture? It is very true that Benjy is purity and innocence, non of his harmful actions are intentional, it is as if he is the glue. Great Blog.
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