Closure in the Sound and the Fury

An essential symbol of closure in the Sound and the Fury is the date: Easter Sunday and the fact that it is told by Dilsy. Easter is symbol of rebirth and in this case that rebirth brings closure. It is on this day that Miss Quentin runs away, and officially rids the house of any physical reminder of Caddy and her disgrace. In so doing, she brings about a new beginning. It is significant that Dilsy narrates this final section. Dilsy is the glue that holds the family together. She is the cause of hope and a symbol of faith and unconditional love, as can be clearly seen in her love and tenderness towards Miss Quentin despite Quentin's overt rudeness in return. That Dilsy is the symbol of this love coincides perfectly with Easter day. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and reminds us that he died and rose for our sins because he loves us unconditionally. Throughout this final section, Dilsy often comments on having seen the first and the last. This is also very biblical, but also can be interpreted as her having seen the departure of the first and the last of the Compson children. Dilsy is a constant presence in the Compson household and in the end she alone remains to have witnessed the whole story. 1Corinthinans 13:13 reads: "In the end there are three things that last: Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is Love." It is interesting that Dilsy should symbolize all three things and last until the end. 

Word Count: 258