P. 57, Scene 64 (1928) I ate some cake.
P. 58, Scene 65 (1900) That's right, Dilsey said.
After a brief scene in the kitchen focusing on Benjy's 1928 birthday cake, his mind returns to the kitchen scene in 1900, when his name had just been changed. In this scene, we see that one of Dilsey's major characteristics is her simple but strong faith in the rightness of things. Her complete assurance that her own name is written in the Book attests to her strong faith. Even though she can't read, she believes that when her name is read, all she has to do is say "Ise here."
P. 58, Scene 66 (1928) The long wire came . . .
This scene aptly illustrates the selfish, whining neuroticism of Mrs. Compson. She is concerned only about her own comfort and thinks that everything is deliberately done to upset her. Even though she complains about the cake that Dilsey brings for Benjy's birthday, she will not lift a hand to do anything for Benjy under any circumstances. Whenever she tries to correct Benjy, she only makes him cry more. She has absolutely no understanding of his needs and would not take the trouble to soothe and comfort him—even if she knew how.
P. 61, Scene 67 (1900) Your name is Benjy, . . .
P. 61, Scene 68 (1898) . . . Caddy said. "Let me . . ."
P. 61, Scene 69 (1900) Versh set me down . . .
In Scene 66, Luster took Benjy out of the kitchen and into the library, where Benjy now remembers earlier scenes that took place in the library. In Scene 67 (1900), Benjy is being told about his name change; chronologically, then, this is one of the earliest of this set of scenes. Notice how Caddy's wanting to carry Benjy (in 1900) immediately evokes a scene two years earlier when Caddy also carried him. Scene 69 can be dated only by images; that is, the images of fire, the mirror, and the sickness are all connected with 1900, and, therefore, we assume this scene occurs in 1900. But more important, the scene further illustrates Mrs. Compson's self-centered concern for herself, thus filling out the picture of her as a selfish and neurotic woman.
P. 62, Scene 70 (1898) Mother's sick, father said.
P. 62, Scene 71 (1900) We could hear the roof.
P. 64, Scene 72 (1900) Father took me up.
Mrs. Compson's sickness in Scene 69 carries Benjy's mind back to 1898 (Scene 70), when Damuddy died and all the children were told not to disturb Mrs. Compson. Then in Scene 71, Benjy returns to the scene he was just remembering, when Caddy carried him to Mrs. Compson for an explanation of his new name.
Between Scenes 71 and 72, there are no italics or any other graphic indications denoting a scene change, but the scene obviously changes. Both of these scenes concern the same subject at the same time, but Scene 72 obviously takes place later in the evening, after Mr. Compson is at home.
These two scenes again reveal Mrs. Compson's total inability to deal with Benjy. She has no understanding of her own child's needs. Instead, it is Caddy who must look after him. In other words, Caddy functions in Mrs. Compson's place as a mother for Benjy. It is also interesting to note that Mrs. Compson's mother spoiled Jason, whom Mrs. Compson says is the only one of her children who takes after the Bascombs rather than the Compsons. That the Bascombs prefer Jason, the most detestable of the children, illustrates their lack of understanding of the basic qualities of each child. We also realize here that Mrs. Compson is probably right—they prefer Jason because he is most like them. The sadistic pleasure that Jason gets from maliciously destroying Benjy's paper dolls is later reflected in Jason's insistence that Benjy be castrated. Clearly, Caddy's desire to protect Benjy and Jason's attempts to destroy him are characteristics that remain with each character as they grow older.
P. 65, Scene 73 (1928) Jason came in.
P. 66, Scene 74 (1900) You can look at the fire . . .
P. 66, Scene 75 (1928) Dilsey said, "You come, Jason."
P. 66, Scene 76 (1900) We could hear the roof.
P. 66, Scene 77 (1928) Quentin said, "Didn't Dilsey say supper . . ."
P. 67, Scene 78 (1900) I could hear the roof.
These scenes do not represent Benjy's fragmented mind so much as they show how his mind functions in the past, in spite of several interruptions in the present time. The same scene in 1900 keeps recurring in his mind, and, if they were isolated, these scenes would be in chronological order even though there is a time lapse between some of them. For example, when Dilsey calls Miss Quentin (Benjy's niece) to supper in Scene 75, Benjy's mind immediately recalls an episode (Scene 76) connected with his brother Quentin. That is, the name itself sparks the memory of his brother Quentin.
In Scene 77, when Luster asks for a quarter to go to the show, we must remember that in the chronology of the entire novel, Jason—on the previous night (Friday night)—burned two free passes because Luster didn't have a nickel to pay for them. Thus, Luster's request for a quarter, in the light of the actions in Jason's section, is pathetic.
In Scene 78, Quentin's fight is left essentially unexplained. He was presumably trying to protect someone, again emphasizing one of his basic characteristics—that is, a concern for the welfare of others even though others don't need it. This same quality is seen in his relationship with Caddy and with the little Italian girl whom he meets in the bakery in the next section.
