Benjy Compson is the son of Caroline and Jason Compson. He is the brother of Quentin, Caddy, and Jason. Benjy is mentally retarded, which makes some of his family threaten to send him to a mental hospital to live. The book gives no physical description of Benjy. Characters in the book describe Benjy as “deef [deaf] and dumb” (49) and an “old looney” (17). Benjy loves his sister Caddy and is sad when she marries and leaves him. Benjy narrates the first chapter of the novel, even though he cannot talk.
Candace “Caddy” Compson is the only daughter of Jason and Caroline. She is rebellious, but kind. She takes care of Benjy while she lives at home. Caddy becomes pregnant at a young age and her husband leaves her; her parents have to raise the baby. Caddy’s daughter is named Quentin, after Caddy’s brother. Candace is bossy as a young girl; she orders her brothers around by saying things like: “You’ve got to eat if I say you have to” (26) and “mind me tonight” (39).
Jason Compson has many different personalities in the novel. As a child he is constantly crying; his grandmother, Damuddy, spoils him. When he g
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