After having successfully wrapped up Faulkner's novel it is easy for me to say that Dilsey is my favorite character. She is so so bold and outspoken and she is constantly standing up to Jason which makes me admire her as a person. I think Faulkner in this last chapter really tied in the ideas of the new and old South. A very broad idea is that Dilsey, a black servant, who is the strongest and most independent character in the story, has taken charge of the family which shows how the new South is entering their world. In the old South Jason would be the strongest character and he would be caring for the people in his household yet in this chapter we see Jason grow weak and Dilsey come to charge. When Dilsey is attending Church and she speaks of how she has seen the first and the last of the Compson family Faulkner reminds us that it is Dilsey who has been there since the beginning of this family and it is Dilsey who will see them through to the end. If anyone is comfortable with the notion of this 'changing South' it's Dilsey. She understands it is happening and she is okay with it.
There is also a bit of irony in this chapter with Jason. He strives to be a man who is respected and to him, having a car is very important yet his car is slowly wearing out and he becomes to sick to even drive it so he has to hire someone else to drive him to town. Slowly but surely Jason's old South is crumbling around him; beginning with having to sell Benjy's pasture and now even his car won't work right for him. Faulkner continually points out the instability of this household- Mrs. Compson is bedridden and completely reliant on Dilsey, Jason is crazed and can't take care of his family all the while being obsessed with his niece (Quentin), and Benjy while being mentally handicapped doesn't have the love of his mother and is mourning the loss of his sister, Caddy.
First off let me tell you how much I love the titles on your blog. Second I like how you mentioned how you point out the instability of the Compson household. Third I liked how you mentioned that the scene in the Church was Faulkner's way of reminding us that Dilsey is the only constant in the Compson home. Loved your blog!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis of Disley's character. Your detail in who Disley's character really is and what she represents is well thought out. Also the thought of the "changing South" is something I personally had not taken into account, so it's nice to get some other perspective. Lastly, I liked reading about your admiration for Disley because she is such a different and strong character than the others in the book. And agreeing with Caitlin, your titles are really clever!
ReplyDeleteI at first thought that Dilsey represented the old South but after reading your comments I can see where you're coming from. Maybe Dilsey does represent the New South but she is definitely taking charge by transitioning from Old to New. I really like this central theme of the South changing because it makes the story so much more metaphoric and deeper.
ReplyDeletegood, just would like to see a little more in the analysis and details here
ReplyDeleteI hadn't initially realized how much Dilsey had taken control of the Compson family, but as you pointed out, she's really the only person left who has any semblance of control of her own life, and is freely embracing the changes coming to the south and the freedom accompanying those changes. Dilsey has come into her own over the course of the novel, despite her age and the disrespect she receives from the people she works for. She sees the change for what it is, and is the only Compson still living at that house who is going to be able to survive it.
ReplyDelete