The Sound and the Fury is a novel by William Faulkner, first published in 1929. It tells the story of the Compson family, a once-prominent Southern household now in decline. The novel is known for its experimental style, including stream-of-consciousness narration and shifting perspectives. It is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different character’s point of view—Benjy, a mentally disabled man; Quentin, a troubled Harvard student; Jason, a bitter and cruel brother; and a final section from a third-person perspective. These sections weave together themes of time, memory, loss, and the decay of traditional Southern values.

Faulkner’s use of non-linear storytelling and complex psychological depth marked a significant moment in American modernist literature. The title, taken from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, reflects the chaos and meaninglessness felt by many of the characters. The Sound and the Fury is widely regarded as one of Faulkner’s greatest works and a classic of 20th-century American fiction, praised for its emotional power and innovative narrative structure.