Monday, April 13, 2015

June Second, 1910
Just as I thought I was getting a better understanding of the book and being able to keep up and process the different changes of time in Benjy's point of view, I was thrown for a loop when the view changed to Quentin Compsons. He doesn't really have a clear sense of the "I" in his view because he is always contemplating time and his past. His section of the story was almost eighteen years prior to the present  day of Benjy's section, but instead of focusing on flashbacks of his earlier childhood like Benjy, he thinks back to Caddy's sexuality. He is so shocked and horrified about Caddy and her virginity. Quentin has strong views of honor, so the idea of womanhood and virginity, Quentin cannot accept his sister's "growing sexuality" or his fathers view that "virginity is merely an invention by men". Most of his flashbacks go back to his sister and his involvement in her sexual life, I find it quite strange that Quentin was so involved. It was also strange that he anounced to his father that he was the one that impregnated Caddy and they committed incest. So let's be clear: There was no sex between Quentin and Caddy, Quentin was actually a virgin and thought of all women as sisters and that no man should desire their sister. But by saying he's committed invest with Caddy, he thinks he's helping her, but Caddy doesn't want his help, in reality Quentin is the one that may need help.

Quentin's narration of the story may be confusing to the reader because his thoughts are sporadic and his thoughts are constantly jumping to one thought to the next. Also his perception of time occured on almost every page which may suggest that he is obsessed with it, he is also trying to "escape" from it. This suggests that his mental state is unstable.

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