Classics Without All the Class discussion

How would you describe Jason's mode of thinking and reasoning?

Do you think Jason succeeds in preserving the appearance of normality that is so important to him?

What are some of his activities and preoccupations?

How is Jason's narrative different from Benjy's and Quentin's?

Jason's narrative was different from the first two largely because it could be understood! It was also a much more interactive narrative - there were conversations with Caddy, his mother, Miss Quentin, Dilcy, his boss, etc. Benjy spoke to no one, and Quentin's conversations were limited. There were the same time frame issues in Jason's section but either I had gotten used to that, or I am familiar enough with the story to know who is who and when is when.

The only people I remember he converses with outside the family are his boss - who is on to him - the slave who works at the hardware store, and the postal clerk. The slave and the postal clerk show Jason no respect and the boss only keeps him on out of respect for his mother so I don't think Jason does preserve the appearance of normality. He is transparently horrible.

I thought Jason's section was laugh out loud funny. Obviously Jason is a horrid individual, but his razor sharp, cynical observations were often hilarious. If he were someone I was acquainted with I wouldn't find him in any way funny, but I really think Faulkner must have had fun with Jason and it was a respite (comic relief) for those who have struggled through the first two narratives.

Jason's section was the most engaging for me as well. He was despicable but I do think his mother made him worse by setting him apart from his siblings his whole life. He was blatantly her favorite even though he was mean and spiteful. He was almost a caricature of MEAN and yes I agree it was funny at times!

It seemed to me that the defining moment of Jason's life was not getting the job that Herbert promised him. It's as if all of being passed over (in his view) for his siblings was just compounded in that single betrayal, and it set in stone who he would be forever. That is, a bitter, dishonest, selfish, manipulative man who is obsessed with money and refuses to take responsibility for anything in his life.

I also found it interesting that, to him, Quentin is just "she." No identity. No name. Just "she" or "b****." He only cares for what she stands for, which is Caddy ruining his opportunity, and then adding to his burdens.

Benjy and Quentin are obsessed with Caddy as a figure of love. Jason, however, doesn't express any feelings of love for her. His obsession is driven by hatred and blame.

I agree that his mother's coddling almost arrested his development. Instead of becoming a man, he is basically a tall, angry child who blames all his siblings and lies to his mom to keep out of getting a spanking.

Crystal wrote: "It seemed to me that the defining moment of Jason's life was not getting the job that Herbert promised him. It's as if all of being passed over (in his view) for his siblings was just compounded i..."

Well said. I agree on all points. That he is robbing his own mother blind says it all! What his mother was thinking in all of her coddling is just beyond me, but she was difficult to stomach throughout the entire book. I really enjoyed Jason's section. Faulkner created a wonderfully developed completely despicable character in just a brief few pages. Some authors don't create such well rounded characters in an entire novel.

In thinking about why Jason's mother babied him and put up with him so much, I think it's a causal mixture of him being just as weak as her in person and the fact that he was somewhat a loner.

Caddy obviously has a very strong personality, and didn't really need her mom. Quentin loved Caddy, which left no room for Mrs. Compson. And Mrs. Compson didn't want to fuss at all with Benjy. But Jason was always on the outside of the three kids. Quentin and Caddy were always a pair, and he, like his mom, didn't care for Benjy.

And just like his mom, Jason was always crying, always complaining, always blaming. It's as if she saw herself in him, and chose to protect that instead of make him better than she was.

"It's as if she saw herself in him, and chose to protect that instead of make him better than she was. "

Good point. And she did actually say that Jason is the only child who has a "good dose of Bascomb (her family) in him" The others were Comptons through and through, much to her dismay.

Beth wrote: Crystal wrote:"It's as if she saw herself in him, and chose to protect that instead of make him better than she was." "Good point."

I agree, insightful comment.

Jason, Jason, Jason. I think that Jason had a serious inferiority complex. For me, his repeated thought pattern of, "I can stand on my own," while working at a hardware store confirmed this. He thought he was a big man...at least he wanted to be a big man. But he wasn't, and I think that deep down he knew it. Hence his bitterness. He probably felt that his family was once noble or important, or at least he thought it should be noble and/or important. However, in the end, it wasn't. Jason's mother considered herself a "lady", and I think that Jason desperately wanted her to be what she thought she was...but she wasn't. She wasn't strong. She wasn't noble. She was self serving and weak. Jason's life is full of these disappointing contradictions of what he thinks should be, and what really is.

One thing perplexed me: If Jason was really his mother's favorite, why did they "sell the farm" to send Quentin to school? I think that this added to Jason's inferiority complex and bitterness. Afterall, if he was the only "real" Bascomb, why not leave something (money, land, etc.) for him? And how did Quentin respond to such a gift? He wasted it.

Finally, I feel that Jason's bitterness toward Caddy stems from two issues. The first is Jason's love for Caddy. Yes, I think that he also had some unnatural feelings for Caddy. However, Benjy was Caddy's favorite. And the final straw came when Caddy's marriage crumbled causing Jason to lose the promised job. From then on, Jason was further embittered by the family's having to raise young Quentin. And how did young Quentin respond to such a gift??? Not as Jason had hoped. Of course, he saw Caddy in her which forced him to relive his bitter relationship with her (Caddy) on a daily basis. Living with young Quentin was a bitter reminder of his lack of desirability and lack on manliness (not to mention his lack of control regarding any event in his life). But that's just what I think.

Jennifer wrote: "Finally, I feel that Jason's bitterness toward Caddy stems from two issues. The first is Jason's love for Caddy. Yes, I think that he also had some unnatural feelings for Caddy. However, Benjy was Caddy's favorite."

What in the text brought you to that conclusion? I didn't catch that at all, so I'm wondering if I missed something.

As far as why they would send Quentin to school over Jason, most likely because Quentin is the eldest, so he would get preference. But I also believe that Mrs. Compson states that Mr. Compson always favored the other children over Jason, so that could also explain why.