After three turbulent and confusing chapters, it was refreshing to read a chapter that was so straightforward and traditional. This chapter also clears up so much about the book as a whole. I think Faulkner decided to present things in this order because he portrayed the Compson family's downfall as a circle of life.
As readers, we would expect the last chapter to be narrated by Caddy seeing she is the most important character in the novel. However, Dilsey's narration provides us a new view of the Compson family tale for the fourth time. We start in Benjy's chapter with a turbulent explanation that allows us to view all the flaws of the Compson family, than we go to Quentin's chapter in which we encounter the traditional Southern views, and finally Jason's chapter where we see a bitter and resentful view of the Compson family. In Dilsey's chapter however, we find a refreshing contradiction to everything we've learned in the past 3 chapters. Quentin Jr's escape is the ultimate event that forever tarnishes the name of the Compson family. Particularly for the men of the family. Throughout the novel, we see the women dominating the men's lives. Mrs. Compson had Mr. Compson waiting for her constantly, and all 3 brothers have in some way been "dominated" by Caddy, Benjy cannot function without Caddy, Quentin cannot function with Caddy's ways, and Jason cannot forgive Caddy for costing him a job. However, Caddy has never intentionally done these things, in fact most of these dominations come from a weakness within the brothers.
Dilsey's narration in the only beacon of hope we have received throughout the entire novel. She is a sharp contrast to the the Compson's downfall because she holds the family together and is not obsessed with withholding traditional Southern values like the others. She loves Benjy unconditionally, accepts Quentin's views, and deals with Jason. Dilsey views the downfall of the Compson family and her words "I seed de beginning, and now I seed de ending", tell us that despite her sadness concerning the destruction of the family, she accepts it and doesn't become obsessed with it in one way or another. She is exact contradiction to the self absorption that ruins the family, and this is why Faulkner wrote the book in this order. He hoped that this contrast would show people that although Dilsey is a black women (someone who is considered the lowest in southern society) she becomes the person of highest honor in the book. Faulkner suggests to us that despite the destruction, Dilsey can redeem the Compson family name. This is also supported by the fact that this chapter takes place on Easter Sunday, a day of redemption.
Faulkner told this story four times to show us the cycle of destruction and the ultimate redemption. This book has an underying religious plot intertwined into it as well, and that's why Dilsey's chapter is able to tie this story together. This book is "about" how despite the all the destruction and downfall, all you need is one beacon of light to change things. A full cycle is needed in order to change circumstances, and we see this because the book ends the same way it begins with a turbulent description from Benjy. Overall, Faulkner uses the novel to convey his overall distaste for traditional Southern values.
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