从喧哗与骚动中凯蒂的悲剧看20世纪初女性的社会地位

　　Abstract
　　CaddywasthecentralcharacterinTheSoundandtheFury。Therewasnoseparatechaptertoexpressherthoughts，buteverythingwasconnectedwithher。FromBenjytoJason，thenarrationofeachofthemreflectedwhatCaddy’slifewaslike。Caddywasatragiccharacterinthenovel。
　　Inthenovel，FaulknerusedmultipleanglednarrationtoexpressCaddy’stragedy，andthecausesofitmainlycamefromtwoaspects。Onewasthepressurefromherfamily，Benjy，heryoungestbrother’scompletedependenceonher。Quentin，herelderbrother，whohadaspecialaffectionforCaddy，thoughtexcessivelyhighlyofhervirginity。WhatCaddyhadsufferedcausedhislossofmentalbalance；atlast，hechosetocommitsuicide。Besides，hermotherandbrotherJasontreatedherheartlessly。Theothercausewasthebackwardfeudalismandtraditionalcode。AlloftheseturnedCaddyintoapromiscuous，degeneratewomanfromapuregirl。
　　However，Caddy’stragedyshowedafactthatwomenhadalowsocialpositionandweretreatedunfairlyintheearly20thcentury。Atthattime，womengotonlyfeweconomical，politicalandeducationalrights，theycouldnotenjoyequalrightswithmenandtheywerenotrespectedbysociety。
　　KeyWords
　　Caddy；tragedy；code；women’sright
　　摘要
　　在小说中，凯蒂是整个故事的中心，虽然没有以她的观点为中心的单独的一章，但是所有的都与她息息相关，从班吉到杰生，他们每个人的叙述都反映出了凯蒂的生活。她所扮演的是一个悲剧角色。
　　在小说中，福克纳运用了多角度的叙述法来表现凯蒂的悲剧。而凯蒂的悲剧主要来自两方面。一方面来自她的家庭的压力，小弟班吉对她的完全依赖，而哥哥昆丁对凯蒂有一种特殊的感情，他过分看中凯蒂的贞节，凯蒂所遭受的一切使他在精神上失去了平衡，最后，他选择了自杀。另外，她的母亲以及大弟杰生对她冷酷无情。另外一个原因就是落后的封建主义以及传统的准则。所有的这些原因使凯蒂从一个纯洁的女孩变成了一个轻佻浪荡的女人。
　　然而，凯蒂的悲剧揭示了一个事实，在20世纪初期，女性的社会地位极端的低下，而且她们不能得到公平的对待。在那个时代，女人只能享有极少的经济，政治以及教育的权利。她们不能与男性享有平等的权利，也得不到社会的尊重。
　　关键词
　　凯蒂；悲剧；行为准则；女性权利
　　Introduction
　　TheSoundandtheFury，Faulkner’sfourthnovel，washisfirstmasterpiece，andwasconsideredhisfinestwork。ItwasrecognizedasoneofthemostsuccessfullyinnovativeandexperimentalAmericannovelsofitstimeandoneofthemostchallengingtointerpret。ThenoveldealtwiththedownfalloftheCompsons，whohadbeenaprominentfamilyinJefferson，Mississippi，frombeforetheCivilWar。
　　AlthoughtherewasnotaseparatechapterofCaddyinthisnovel，everythingwasrelatedtoher。Justbecauseofthepressurethatherfamilygave，andthetraditional，idealizedSoutherncode，shebecameapromiscuous，degeneratewomanfromapuregirl。
　　Thisthesisfirstgivesabriefintroductiontotheauthorandthework，andthenanalyzesthecausesofCaddy’stragedyfromtwoaspects，namely，thepressurefromherfamilyandthebackwardfeudalismandthetraditionalcode。
　　Lastly，thethesisanalyzesWomen’ssocialstatusreflectedfromCaddy’stragedy。Inshort，Caddy’stragedyshowedhowbackwardthefeudalismoftheSouthAmericawas。Meanwhile，wecanseethatwomenatthattimecouldnotberespectedbythesociety，andtheirsocialstatuswasverylow，itwasunfairforthem。
　　。ABriefIntroductiontoWilliamFaulkner
　　WilliamFaulknerwasbornin1897inNewAlbany，Mississippi，aprominentSouthernfamily。AnumberofhisancestorswereinvolvedintheMexicanAmericanWar，theCivilWar，andtheReconstruction，andwerepartofthelocalrailroadindustryandpoliticalscene。Faulknershowedsignsofartistictalentfromayoungage，buthebecameboredwithhisclasseslaterandneverfinishedhighschool。
　　FaulknergrewupinthetownofOxford，Mississippi，andeventuallyreturnedthereinhislateryearsandpurchasedhisfamousestate。OxfordandthesurroundingareawereFaulkner’sinspirationforthefictionalYoknapatawphaCounty，Mississippi。Theselocalesbecamethesettingforanumberofhisworks。Faulkner’sYoknapatawphanovelsincludeTheSoundandtheFury，AsILayDying，LightinAugust，Absalom，Absalom！TheHamlet，andGoDown，Moses（LiWenjun，2）。
　　。ABriefIntroductiontotheNovel
　　。TheCausesofCaddy’sTragedy
　　AllthereadersofTheSoundandtheFuryknowthatCaddywasatragiccharacterinthisnovel。ThoughtherewasnotaseparatechapterofCaddy，shewasthecentralcharacterinthisnovel；andthecauseofthetragedyofCaddymainlycamefromtwoaspects。
　　A。ThePressurefromtheFamily
　　ThisstorywasabouttheCompsonfamily，whichwasaprominentoneinJefferson，MississippioftheSouthAmerica。Caddywastheonlydaughterofthisfamily。ThefirstsectionnarratedbyCaddy’syoungestbrotherBenjy，anidiot，whodependedtoomuchonher；hethoughtrepeatedlythatCaddysmellsliketrees。Mostofhismemorywascenteredabouther。Forexample，atthebeginningofthissection，LusterleadedBenjytoanearbycourse，hopingtoearnbackhislostquarterbyfetchinglostgolfballsfromtherough。ThegolfcourselayonastretchofwhatusedtobetheCompsonpasture，whichhadbeensoldtodevelopersbyMr。CompsontopayforhissonQuentin’seducationatHarvard。WhenBenjyhearedoneofthegolferscallingouttohiscaddie，hemoanedbecausethesoundofthewordcaddieremindedhimofhissister。Inhismemory，BenjyandT。P。，oneoftheCompsons’blackservants，hadgottentheirhandsonsomechampagnefromthewedding，thoughT。P。thoughtthebeveragewasmerelysassprilluh。Thetwoboysweredrinkingandkeepingfallingdownwhentheywatchedsomecowscrosstheyard。T。P。andQuentingotintoafightbecauseT。P。hadbeenteasingQuentinaboutCaddy。ThefightingandthealcoholthrewBenjy’sworldintochaos，andhebegantocry。VershcarriedBenjyupthehilltotheweddingparty。Moreover，inthepresent，LusterwasstillstandingwithBenjyasheplayedinthestream。LustertoldBenjynottoapproachthenearbyswingbecauseMissQuentinwastherewithherboyfriend，themanwiththeredtie。ThismadeBenjyrecallatimeyearsagowhenhesawCaddyandCharlie，herfirstsuitor，kissingontheswing。Inhismemory，BenjybegantocryveryloudlywhenCaddy’ssuitorapproached。CharliegrowedangryatBenjy’sintrusion，whichupsetedBenjyevenmore。CaddytookBenjybacktothehouseandcried，becausesheknewBenjywasupsetwithherforkissingCharlie。CaddyapologizedtoBenjyandwashedhermouthoutwithsoap。ThegateandschoolgirlsremindedBenjyofadayin1910，whenheranoutofthehousetolookatsomegirlswhowerewalkingthroughthesamegate。Inhismemory，Benjymanagedtoopenthegateandrunthroughit，hewantedtotellthegirlshowmuchhemissedCaddy，hecatchedupwithoneofthem。Thegirlscreamedinterror。ThesceneendedwithanunspecifiedassailantpresumablythefatherofoneofthegirlsattackedBenjy。Thatnight，Mr。CompsonwantedtoknowhowBenjygotpastthegate。HeandJasonmulledovertheideaofhavingBenjycastratedasaprecaution。AllofthesethingsshowhowpitifulBenjiwas！Meanwhile，thiswasalsothetragedyofCaddy，becausefromthechildhoodtotheagehood，therewasonlyCaddycaringforBenjy。Whensheporced，theirmotherandJasondidnotallowhertogohomeandmeetherdaughter，Quentin。ButshealsocaredforBenjyverymuch；Caddyafraidedthataftertheirfather’sdeathBenjywouldbeputinthementalhospitalinJacksonbyJason。
　　AnothercausecamefromhermotherandanotherbrotherJason。HerbertHeadhadofferedJasonajobathisbankbeforeCaddymarriedhim，butrescindedthatofferwhenheporcedCaddy。BecauseheknewthatCaddy’sunbornchildwasnothis。ThisretractionleftJasonnochoicebuttoworkatthelocalfarmsupplystore。However，afterCaddyporced，hermotherdidnotallowCaddycomebackhome，atlast，theytookinCaddy’sdaughterMissQuentin，butCaddycouldnotmeether。DuringQuentin’sgrowingtime，Jasontookawaythemoney，whichCaddygavetoQuentin，ashisown。Inordertomeetherdaughter，CaddywouldliketobecontrolledbyJason；JasonaskedCaddytopayhimathousanddollarsforseeingQuentinaminute。FromthesethingswecanseethatCaddyhadnorightsincesheporced，inhermother’seyes，shewasonlyanexchangeconditionwithJason’sjob。UnderthebackwardSouthernfeudalism，Caddywasdoomedtobeatragicperson。
　　B。BackwardFeudalismandtheTraditionalCode
　　Afterthecivilwar，TheNorthernCapitalismdefeatedtheSouthernfeudalism。ButtherewasstilltheresidueofthefeudalserfsystemintheSouthAmerica。Andtherewasatraditional，idealizedSoutherncodeofhonorandconduct，whichwasalegacyoftheoldSouth，ahighlypaternalisticsocietyinwhichmenwereexpectedtoactlikegentlemenandwomenlikeladies。InTheSoundandtheFury，CaddywasjustexpectedtoactlikealadyandQuentinlikeagentleman。However，Caddywasnotapersonwithoutthought，shewaseagerforfreedom，soshebecameseverelyrebellions。Inherteenage，shebecameverypromiscuous。However，herbrotherQuentinbelievedverystronglyintheidealsespousedunderthistraditionalcode：familyhonor；gentlemanlyvirtue，strength，anddecency；andespeciallyfemininepurity，modesty，andvirginity。MenlikeQuentin，whoattemptedtoclingtotheseincreasinglyoutdatedSouthernideals，sensedthattheirgraspwasslippingandtheirsenseoforderwasdisappearing。Theirrelianceonasetofoutdatedmythsandidealsleftthemunequippedtodealwiththerealitiesofthemodernworld。SeveralcharactersinTheSoundandtheFuryembodiedthischangingoftheguardfromoldidealstomodernrealities。Damuddy，thelonerepresentativeoftheoldSouthleftintheCompsonfamily，diedbeforeanyoftheotheractioninthenoveltookplace。MissQuentin，thelonememberoftheCompsons’newgeneration，wasnotonlyabastardchild，buthadcontinuedinCaddy’spromiscuouswayswithoutdisplayinganyoftheguiltthatCaddyfeltaboutsomethingdidwrong。ButCaddy’spromiscuitybrokethecode，Quentinattemptedtomaintainhissenseoforderbyrespondinginamannerheconsideredhonorable。Thinkingthatsuicidewastheonlywaytosalvagethefamilyname，atlast，hepreferredthesuicide。NodoubthisbehaviorgaveCaddypsychologicalpressureandmadeherfeelashamed，sothatherlifestylewasaffectedafterwards。
　　。Women’sSocialStatusReflectedfromCaddy’sTragedy
　　FromCaddy’stragedy，wecanseethatthesocialstatusofwomenwasverylowintheearlyofthe20thcentury。
　　A。WomenHavingFewerRightsatThatTime
　　B。Women’sUnfailTreatment
　　Womenwerelongconsiderednaturallyweakerthanmen，squeamish，andunabletoperformworkrequiringmuscularorintellectualdevelopment。Inmostreindustrializesocieties，forexample，domesticchoreswererelegatedtowomen，leavingheavierlaborsuchashuntingandplowingtomen。Thisignoredthefactthatcaringforchildrenanddoingsuchtasksasmilkingcowsandwashingclothesalsorequiredheavy，sustainedlabor。Butphysiologicaltestsnowsuggestthatwomen
　　haveagreatertoleranceforpain，andstatisticsrevealthatwomenlivelongerandaremoreresistanttomanydiseases。Maternity，thenaturalbiologicalroleofwomen，hastraditionallybeenregardedastheirmajorsocialroleaswell。Theresultingstereotypethatawoman’splaceisinthehomehaslargelydeterminedthewaysinwhichwomenhaveexpressedthemselves。Traditionally，amiddleclassgirlinWesternculturetendedtolearnfromhermother’sexamplethatcooking，cleaningandcaringforchildrenwerethebehaviorexpectedofherwhenshegrewup。Andformaleducationforgirlshistoricallyhasbeensecondarytothatforboys。IncolonialAmerica，girlslearnedtoreadandwriteatdameschools。Theycouldattendthemaster’sschoolsforboyswhentherewasroom，usuallyduringthesummerwhenmostoftheboyswereworking。Besides，someoftheselaborlawswereseenasrestrictingtherightsofworkingwomen。Forinstance，lawsprohibitingwomenfromworkingmorethananeighthourdayorfromworkingatnighteffectivelypreventedwomenfromholdingmanyjobs，particularlysupervisorypositionsthatmightrequireovertimework。Lawsinsomestatesprohibitedwomenfromliftingweightsaboveacertainamountvaryingfromaslittleas15poundsagainbarringwomenfrommanyjobs。IncolonialAmerica，womenwhoearnedtheirownlivingusuallybecameseamstressesorkeptboardinghouses。In1900s，womenconstitutedabout5percentofthetotaldoctorsintheUnitedStates。Womenalsohadnotgreatlyimprovedtheirstatusinotherprofessions。Moreover，womenwereunfairinmorals。Forexample，ifamanhadsleptwithmanywomen，hewouldnotbecondemnedbythesociety，ifawomandidthat，justlikeCaddyofTheSoundandtheFury，shewouldberegardedasapromiscuous，degeneratewoman。
　　Inaword，womencouldnotgetfairandenoughrightsintheearlyofthe20thcentury。Manyfeministsbelievethatacooperativesocietybasedonsocialeconomicprincipleswouldrespecttherightsofwomen。
　　Conclusion
　　FromTheSoundandtheFury，wecanseethehighrecognitionandsummaryabilityofWilliamFaulkner’sviewaboutlifeandhistory。Hisworkappearedconfusing，andsometimesitjustlikesthemorontalkingnonsense。Butinfact，itwasanalysisofanoldfamily’sdisintegrationandturntodeath。ItreallystatedanaspectaboutthechangeoftheSouthAmerica’shistory。TheSoundandtheFuryembodiedthisaspectofFaulkner’smatureaesthetic；hisparadoxicaldescriptionsarenotpointylessriddlesbutratherterseformulatetodescribethesubversionofresolvedmeaning，closedform，andfullrepresemationbythelanguagethataspirestothoseachievements。
　　NearlyeveryreaderagreedthatCaddyCompsonwasakey，thoughcriticsdifferinhowprominentherroleshouldbe。However，shewasatragiccharacter。Hertragedypiercedthroughthewholestory。Wehavetohaveapityforher。Justbecauseofherfamilyandthebackwardfeudalserfsystemandthetraditional，idealizedsouthcode，Caddybecameapromiscuous，degeneratewomanfromapuregirl。Inthenovel，Quentin’sstruggletoreconcileCaddy’sactionswithhisowntraditionalSouthernvaluesystemreflectsFaulkner’sbroaderconcernwiththeclashbetweentheoldSouthandthemodernworld。Likeamedievalcodeofchivalry，theoldSouth’sidealswerebasedonasocietythathaslargelydisappeared。
　　FromCaddy’stragedy，wecanseethatwomenonlyhadfewerrightsatthattime，womengotonlyfewerlegaleconomical，political，andeducationalrights，theycouldnotenjoyequalrightswithmenandtheywerenotrespectedbysociety。However，atpresent，thestatusesofwomenhavealreadyimprovedinmanyaspects，butsomewomenarestilltreatedunfairly。So，wemustpaymoreattentiontowomen’sstatus，nomatterinthepastorinthemodernsociety，women’srightsarealwaysanimportantmatter。Webelievethatacooperativesocietybasedonsocialeconomicprincipleswouldrespecttherightsofwomen。
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