This section is narrated as though we were seeing all the events through the eyes of a thirty-three-year-old boy-man. Since Benjy is incapable of logical thinking, we have a section that seems terribly confused and illogical. Most of the section simply records sensory impressions that he remembers. When he sees one thing, such as a fence, he is immediately reminded of another episode in which the same object was involved. There is often a jump back in time without any warning to the reader. In one paragraph Benjy might be remembering something that happened only a few years ago, and then suddenly he recalls a similar event that happened some fifteen, twenty, or thirty years ago, and, once in the past, he might either come forward or go further backward in time. Often, but not always, the time change will be indicated by the use of italics.
Since the section is being narrated by a mentally slow man who cannot comment on actions, we must note carefully the images that affect him. For example, when he hears the golfers call for their caddie, the word reminds him of his sister, Caddy, whom Benjy loves more than any other person. The mention of her name causes him to start moaning. Likewise, the golf course at one time belonged to the Compsons. It was generally referred to as "Benjy's pasture." In 1909, Mr. Compson sold this pasture in order to send Quentin to Harvard and to buy more liquor for himself. Thus, in one sense, Benjy misses both his sister, Caddy, and his pasture. Furthermore, in 1910, Benjy was castrated after people thought he was trying to attack some young girls. Consequently, when Benjy sees the golf balls, he is perhaps reminded of his castration.
