1. Benji is the first son of the family, and because of his disability, the family's focus is largely towards him. Benji describes the events through the senses, as he is unable to communicate in other ways. Because he is more of an observer, he is able to stand back and see a different perspective on his family's actions. He is smart and able to use his senses to communicate to the readers what he is thinking.
2. The feelings exhibited by Benji, such as nostalgia and need for intimacy show that the family once had happier times. Perhaps when Benji was younger things were lighter within the family, and they lived in a much happier environment. He relies on his family members and the other characters in the book because he was raised with them always being around him for comfort. Benji's character shows the view people in the South had on the families with children like Benji. It is clear that shame was cast upon them because of the judgement they received.
3. Benji symbolizes the idea of needing dependency. He is unable to do things on his own, and the other characters have obviously readjusted their lives to make his function. They are dependent on the fact that he needs them, that he depends on them too. Although Benji may be a "burden" and the result of shame from others, Benji is able to show how others need each other by finding the balance between dependency and independency.
excellent, but continue to look at symbolic issue
ReplyDeleteYour thought on what Benjy symbolizes was great. I hadn't thought about it that way, that he shows how others need each other. I also agree that his nostalgia shows that the family once had better times and how their empathy has decreased. Nice job
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that Benjy's nostalgia is related to a time when the Compson family had happier times, suggesting they are slowly declining as the story goes on. I hadn't previously thought of this in the novel, but I see it very clearly now, with Benjy's deteriorating condition, the death of both father and Quentin, and mother's lack of capability in holding the family together, especially after Caddy's pregnancy shows it all falling apart. I am also interested in your statement of the South's view of "shame" on the population with disabilities in common with Benjy's. I had discovered that the family was far too traditional, in beliefs related to sexuality, race, and family honor, but I'd never considered it in the realm of mental handicaps.
ReplyDeletei don't think that family was having better times when Benjy was younger or he looked back on better times for the family as a whole but instead things were just better for him when he was a child and all his brothers and sisters were children too. Benny watches his brothers and sister grow up around him and personally I think Benjy wishes they wouldn't grow up and that they all (specifically Caddy) would just stay young and innocent wit him.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good blog. I only disagree with the fact that I wouldn't say the family had happy times, they more or less had days that were less bad. Benjy's a person that can only live in the past as a result of his mental retardation. But in full, a really good analysis.
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