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“That Damn Looney”: Illuminating Benjy and his Narrative with Objects and Autism

Chaloupka, Evan M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1334687361

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Arts, University of Akron, English-Literature.
In THE SOUND AND THE FURY, a latent, unperceived pattern – essential to the narrative – underlies Benjy’s discussion of the flower, the slipper, the cushion, the mirror and the fire. In order to perceive this pattern, the reader must first repudiate the traditional label of “idiot” and any of its subsequent deviations. Given Benjy’s unique characteristics, his object obsession, his social relationships, and his limited language, “person with autism” is a far more accurate label to apply to Benjy. Like us, Faulkner had certain terms with which he could interpret disability. To suppose that Faulkner was simply subscribing to common disability terms and not contributing to and refining a mutable discourse of disability is a critical misstep. Such a belief not only undermines Faulkner’s insight, but also allows Benjy, an engaging, dynamic character, to mutate into a form inhuman. “Idiot,” by its very use, directs attention to problems of Benjy’s text: its practical incoherency, rudimentary language, and an apparent lack of structure. Conversely, “person with autism” redirects the reader’s attention to the intriguing features of the narrative: his depictions of familial relationships that are either warmly nourished or coldly neglected; his rapid associative memory that recalls poignant moments in Compson history with remarkable precision; and his obsession with objects that reflects his personal stability, his happiness, his distress, and his love. Adopting a new lens to view Benjy through is hardly a mistake, some sort of anachronistic scholarly error; it is an action that enlivens a new dimension in The Sound and the Fury, one that must be explored in our contemporary discussions of Faulkner’s seminal work.
Robert Pope, Mr. (Advisor)
Hillary Nunn, Dr. (Committee Member)
Julie Drew, Dr. (Committee Member)
67 p.
American Literature
William Faulkner; Disability Studies; Benjy; The Sound and The Fury; Autism; Idiot; Disability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chaloupka, E. M. (2012). “That Damn Looney”: Illuminating Benjy and his Narrative with Objects and Autism [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1334687361

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chaloupka, Evan. “That Damn Looney”: Illuminating Benjy and his Narrative with Objects and Autism. 2012. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1334687361.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chaloupka, Evan. "“That Damn Looney”: Illuminating Benjy and his Narrative with Objects and Autism." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1334687361

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.