Jason Blog 3/30

Answer and reflect on the Jason Chapter

Review several key passages from this chapter that help to describe Jason as a character in relation to the Compson family and its "new system." Identify your passages. Describe the relationship between narrative structure (form) and characterization (content).

“Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say.” Mrs. Oles, you’ve probably read that quote about 20 times on other people’s blogs by now, but I am adding it to mine to emphasize how Jason’s mind is blockaded from reality. He cannot accept the fact that Caddy is grown up now and pregnant. Jason puts on a facade of the victim, but on the other side of that mask he is really a two-timing thief who finds his throne in the family by blaming others. Not to mention the fact that he is disgusted by Miss Quentin! My theory of his hatred is that fact that she is the “bitch” of Caddy, for Caddy was pregnant with Miss Quentin without being married. Another reason could be the fact that her name is, Quentin. When the brother, Quentin, died the family spoke no word of the incident; maybe this is because in the old southern culture it is a disgrace to commit suicide if your life already is doing well. Enough of my rambling though, going back to how Faulkner describes Jason as a character in relation to the Compson family and the new dynamic. Once Mr. Compson died from alcoholism, the family was shifted into even more of a downward spiral. The mother couldn’t even take care of her children after the death because of her physical conditions, and Caddy can’t step up to the plate because she has now become a disgrace to the family herself, and Bengy is incapable of anything apparently because he is an “idiot”. The only one left to help out is the older brother, Jason. Jason has always been a proficient worker, so when he had to quit his job (that earned him quite the load of bucks shall I say) he was not satisfied to say the least. Keeping in mind this chapter is a day before the Bengy chapter, the reader understands how the more time goes on in the story, the more inconsiderate, he becomes. As to the narrative structure, this is the thing that frustrates me the most, but I am going to take a swing at it. I believe that the form emphasizes the qualities that the characters possess, such as Jason’s dimwitted retorts. Faulkner writes with what seems like a series of unfinished thoughts, as he creates an atmosphere of frustration to be a member of this family.