LITERATURE: Boethius and (gulp!) Faulkner

Let’s play with Philosophy a bit; pull Boethius away from my personal sphere and into Faulkner’s world of the Compson’s of The Sound and The Fury.  I won’t go into essay here, as I have with teaming up Aristotle and Steinbeck in a head to head, but just for giggles…

Fortune, according to Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy (and here, we must assume the words of Philosophy, and thus the theories, are those put forth by Boethius himself, as author), whether it comes in the form of wealth or status is not to be held with any hope of bringing happiness, as it is by nature unreliable, and need be seen as such.  The characters of Faulkner’s novel hold these two gifts of fortune at their highest level of importance, and indeed are driven through life and to death because of them alone.

Mrs. Compson feels that misfortune has brought her the mental incompetence of Benjy, the willfulness of Caddy, the dourness of Quentin, the lack of respect by her husband in deference to his own family name.  Jason, who has little value for his family fights dishonor in its name (and too, dishonors its reputation and title by his own evil nature–another point made by Philosophy), and has an unhealthy and corrupt (see, Philosophy was right again!) view of wealth.  Caddy displays a genuine love for Benjy, and a caring for those around her, yet she lies her way into a marriage to assume an honorable name for her unborn child. 

This, I can see right here, can turn into an essay all in itself by the characters adhering to Philosophy’s theory of unhappiness and misery that the turn of Fortune brings to man.  Quentin is so consumed by his unhappiness that he commits suicide.  Thus, proving Philosophy’s point that fortune or misfortune is just as ably ended by man’s act at death, and so as fickle as Fortune herself. 

And what of Benjy?  He cares nothing for wealth, power or even reputation.  What is his own source of happiness but having Caddy near.  Is he then to be considered closest to the perfect happiness we all should strive to reach?  Or does Philosophy require the understanding that would come only of the knowledge of one’s plight?

Faulkner, it would seem, knew well the failings of man in seeking happiness in Fortune.