Sense, Smell, and Caddy
TSAF 75: “Caddy held me and I could hear us all, and the darkness, and something I could smell. And then I could see the windows, where the trees were buzzing. Then the dark began to go in smooth, bright shapes, like it always does, even when Caddy says that I have been asleep.”
The quote above offers a fine example of the way Benjy’s mind combines various sensory impressions in unconventional ways. There are a number of interpretations that one could derive from the first sentence given its syntax. But, in one particular interpretation, one can spot an example of synesthesia at play in Benjy’s mind. The phrase, “I could hear us all, and the darkness” could be understood to mean that Benjy could hear the darkness. Such an interpretation would reveal that Benjy hears a visual quality—i.e. the darkness. According to this understanding of the sentence, it appears that Benjy fails to distinguish between these two senses or he confuses them. This could be the case either because his cognitive impairment causes him confusion or because he interprets the world in a more profound or complex way enabling him to create unconventional associations. Either way, this quote provides an example of one of the rich and unusual associations that are characteristic of Benjy’s cognition and that repeatedly occur throughout his section. Another great example of synesthesia in which three different sensory experiences are combined comes appears when Benjy observes, “I couldn’t feel the gate at all, but I could smell the bright cold” (TSAF 6).
Furthermore, the phrase “something I could smell” could be variously interpreted. This phrase could be a simple statement of an existence. That is, with the phrase “something I could smell,” Benjy lists something that existed in the room with him and his siblings. Or, this phrase could mean that he “could hear” something that he could also smell. Given this interpretation, the fact that Benjy employs both his senses of hearing and smell to characterize this object illustrates the prominent role that Benjy’s sensory organs play in his comprehension of the world. In particular, the sense of smell features highly in this section. Benjy frequently notes the smell of his sister Caddy whom he often characterizes as smelling like trees. Since smell and Caddy are both important to Benjy or prominent aspects of his life, it seems fitting that he associates a particular smell with his sister.
Furthermore, the phrase “Caddy held me” illustrates Caddy’s important position as primary nurturer for Benjy. This phrase positions Caddy as a subject who acts on Benjy. In this way, she performs the invaluable service of holding and thereby comforting him. This action differs from those of Benjy’s relatives in that it is dedicated directly to him. Earlier in this section, the others do things with Benjy but not necessarily for him solely. They tend to talk about Benjy or direct him in a way that differs qualitatively from Caddy’s holding. In other words, Benjy’s siblings and other acquaintances connect with him through actions and words rather than through emotions. This scene provides a prime example of how Caddy taps into Benjy’s emotional side by participating in the highly sentimental act of holding her brother.
It also appears that this act is significant for Benjy since it is the first thing he mentions upon listing his impressions of the moment. In fact, he first establishes his physical position in relation to Caddy, specifically as the object of Caddy’s actions. After placing himself in the object position with regard to Caddy (“Caddy held me”), his reference to self then assumes the subject position in relation to “us all” (“I could hear us all”). It is noteworthy that Benjy sees and establishes himself in relation to Caddy before clarifying his relationship to the others. The special position that Caddy occupies in Benjy’s memory of this night scene echoes the emotional significance that she plays in his life overall. In his interview with Jean Stein vanden Heuvel, Faulkner remarks on the cherished placed that Caddy occupies for Benjy stating, “He [Benjy] recognized tenderness and love though he could not have named them, and it was the threat to tenderness and love that caused him to bellow when he felt the change in Caddy” (Interview 233). By remembering her smell and actions and establishing his relationship to the world relative to Caddy, Benjy reveals her significance to him.
