In The Sound and the Fury there are several symbols that are repetitively mentioned throughout. For example, Jason's car. This car is symbolic of both the future of the south and himself. Jason cherishes his car, as he also cherishes himself, and wants to drive it around town to improve his social image. However the smell of the gas gives him headaches, so he never actually drives the car. Jason desperately wants to go places in the car but he is physically not capable. This is a parallel to Jason's differing views about social norms from those of his time. Jason represents the shift of the old South to a newer one, however just as a new social conduct that he has in mind is ahead of his time, so is the car. Because he had the car but he can't actually take it anywhere or put it to use.
Another symbol in this book, is Quentin's watch. This watch was a gift from his father, thereby representing the past. However his watch is important because Quentin regularly dismisses the watch and refuses to accept time. This watch is a symbol of the wish, especially by Quentin, to remain in the past. The past being a time that is comforting, familiar, and simpler. The past was a time when Quentin didn't have to be burdened by the loss of innocence and purity by Caddy. Also this symbol represents a larger theme of time itself and how each of the characters perceive it differently even though in the end, it's all in the same time and it all turns out the same way.
Another important symbol, is the smell of honeysuckle. In Benny's chapter when the children were younger, Benjy describes Caddy to smell like leaves, but that one day when they were older, she no longer smelled like leaves and that made Benjy unhappy. And along with that, in Quentin's chapter, when he learns that Caddy has given herself to a man, and in his eyes lost her innocence and purity, he links the smell of honeysuckle with Caddy's sexuality. And since honeysuckle is sweet that would remind you of perfume, a sweet perfume is meant to draw someone in, however both Venjy and Quentin are obsessed with Caddy and her innocence as well as youth. The smell of honeysuckle therefore not only represents Quentins association with Caddy's sexuality, but also how when Caddy starts to wear perfume, that marks the end of her innocence. This symbol also represents the larger theme in this book, of the social norms of the old south. Quentin is very stuck in the old south, and refuses to accept time. And certain things were expected in a family, so Quentin holds tight to those old
Another symbol in this book, is Quentin's watch. This watch was a gift from his father, thereby representing the past. However his watch is important because Quentin regularly dismisses the watch and refuses to accept time. This watch is a symbol of the wish, especially by Quentin, to remain in the past. The past being a time that is comforting, familiar, and simpler. The past was a time when Quentin didn't have to be burdened by the loss of innocence and purity by Caddy. Also this symbol represents a larger theme of time itself and how each of the characters perceive it differently even though in the end, it's all in the same time and it all turns out the same way.
Another important symbol, is the smell of honeysuckle. In Benny's chapter when the children were younger, Benjy describes Caddy to smell like leaves, but that one day when they were older, she no longer smelled like leaves and that made Benjy unhappy. And along with that, in Quentin's chapter, when he learns that Caddy has given herself to a man, and in his eyes lost her innocence and purity, he links the smell of honeysuckle with Caddy's sexuality. And since honeysuckle is sweet that would remind you of perfume, a sweet perfume is meant to draw someone in, however both Venjy and Quentin are obsessed with Caddy and her innocence as well as youth. The smell of honeysuckle therefore not only represents Quentins association with Caddy's sexuality, but also how when Caddy starts to wear perfume, that marks the end of her innocence. This symbol also represents the larger theme in this book, of the social norms of the old south. Quentin is very stuck in the old south, and refuses to accept time. And certain things were expected in a family, so Quentin holds tight to those old
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