A Close Reading of The Sound and the Fury February 20, 2007

Page 22 – Quentin said, “Lift him up.”  Versh lifted me up.  “Drink this, Benjy.” Quentin said.  The glass was hot.  “Hush, now.”  Quentin said.  “Drink it.”  “Sassprilluh.”  T.P. said.  “Lemme drink it, Mr. Quentin.”  “You shut your mouth.” Versh said.  “Mr. Quentin wear you out.”  “Hold him, Versh.” Quentin said.  They held me.  It was hot on my chin and on my shirt.  “Drink.” Quentin said.  They held my head.  It was hot inside me, and I began again.  I was crying now, and something was happening inside me and I cried more, and they held me until it stopped happening.  Then I hushed. 

Benjy’s chapter, as we know, was the most difficult part of this book.  He was mentally retarded, and had very little understanding of what was going on around him.  Benjy really had no control over what went on with himself or those around him.  Whatever was happening, Benjy could not stop.  However, when something occurred that Benjy did not like, he would have a breakdown or an episode, and would cry or scream until everything was back to normal. 

 

In this passage in the beginning of this section, the boys are drinking.  They force Benjy to drink the “sassprilluh” to try and get him drink.  While this is happening we see Benjy going through his episode and freaking out.  We can see that Benjy is uncomfortable, but yet he has no control over what is going on at all.  This shows us a little more about Benjy’s character, and how bad his situation really is.  He cries while they are holding him and forcing the drink in his mouth, and he feels the discomfort of it going down his throat.  He can do nothing about this though.  He just sits there crying until they boys stop.  We can see that as soon as everything goes back to normal, and the boys finish with Benjy, that his episode is over, and he no longer remembers it.