Southern Comfort

Throughout our study thus far of Faulkner’s novel The Sound and the Fury, one aspect of the book, other than the twisted plot line, has caused repeated confusion and looks of bewilderment in our class: the references to Southern culture that we -or should I say most of us students not raised as southern gentlemen- simply do not understand. Whether it be from simple drawls and jargon such as Benjy’s reference to the “ahun” (iron) gate or now extinct common practices such as using gasoline to remove stains, our private-school “Yankee” knowledge has left us out of the loop. Luckily, during my search for a good JSTOR article for English class, I came across one article entitled “Faulkner’s Use of Folklore in The Sound and the Fury,” which gives several insights into the stories and culture that go behind many of Faulkner’s small references throughout the story.

The first of these references that the article discusses is the symbolism of the jimson weed, also known as the stink weed. Being from an arid and somewhat lifeless climate, I for one did not know that the jimson weed’s flower resembles a phallus and therefore is an ironic symbol of Benjy’s castration (Peavy 438). I also had no knowledge of the jimson weed’s poisonous qualities (Peavy 437). The fact that Benjy, a person with neither the knowledge of this quality nor the means to learn it short of being poisoned himself, is allowed to play with the weed and use it as a source of comfort reflects poorly on the attentiveness of his parents who are responsible for his well being. Another interesting trait of the south is a common belief centered on the jaybird. According to the article, the jaybird is known to go to hell once every three days carrying a piece of dirt in a valiant attempt to fill hell. This superstition is also referenced in the novel where Luster throws a rock at a jaybird, telling it to go back to hell (Peavy 443).

However, what I found most useful from this article is its explanation of the term “bluegum,” which evaded definition even following scholarly debate by my English class. This term, which is used repeatedly by Versh in the scene where Maury’s name is changed to Benjamin, referrs to the “bluegum Negro,” which -according to legend- has one black and one blue eye along with the ability to conjure (Peavy 445). In this scene, Versh goes on in his description of a horrible tail of “bluegum” children who ate their father out in the wilderness. This story coincides with the belief that the bite of a “bluegum” is fatal. Apparently, through the bad luck created through the changing of Benjy’s name, Versh believes that Benjy has gained supernatural powers which will cause only more harm to the family. This belief is shared by others in his family: as Frony’s fears having Luster and Benjy in the same bed, saying that Benjy will conjure Luster (Peavy 445). In this sense, one could argue that the tragedy experienced by the entire family could be explained due to Benjy’s conjuration of death following the changing of his name.


Works Cited (through JSTOR of course):

Peavy, Charles D. “Faulkner’s Use of Folklore in The Sound and the Fury.”
Journal of American Folklore. 313.79 (1966): 437-47.

(556)