[#2]
“Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say.” (TSAF, 180). The opening lines of Jason’s chapter clearly sets the tone for his views on women and his attitude towards his sister Caddy and niece Quentin. What Jason lacks or has missed out on in his personal life, he makes up for in how he treats or has treated the women in his life. Jason is a person who is filled with resentment and hostility and this trickles into his need to control the family, for appearances sake, as well as his need to control and set an example for his niece.
Multiple times throughout the chapter, Jason makes an effort to control the actions of his niece and it’s often through the lens of violence or coercion. For example, “I grabbed her by the arm. She dropped the cup. It broke on the floor and she jerked back, looking at me, but I held her arm.” (TSAF, 183). Jason’s incessant need to control his niece is caused by the lack of discipline his mother provides in the house. The only way Jason thinks that his niece will behave is if he can control her via violent acts of discipline, however this repeatedly backfires on him, which causes his anger and hostility to build.
Not only does Jason use physical violence, but he verbally abuse her as well, “You can scare an old woman off, but I’ll show you who’s got a hold of you now.” (TSAF, 184). Jason’s verbal attack at his niece is not only threatening but it’s a reminder, that men are superior to women. Or that men have the ability to control the way a woman acts and behaves; that a woman’s behavior is a reflection of the male head of house. However, despite the fact that Jason is the acting male of the house, his mother still holds the power to much of the actions that take place. Jason only acts or stop when his mother intervenes, “Then I heard Mother on the stairs. I might have known she wasn’t going to keep out of it. I let go.” (TSAF, 185). Although Lady Compson might have control in the house, Jason appears to be frustrated by the lack of discipline his mother provides for Miss Quentin. Jason’s frustration for the lack of discipline that his mother provides, fuels his own hostility towards the treatment of his niece.
Jason’s control also contributes to his need to keep up appearances and to preserve his family’s reputation that is slowly deteriorating. For Jason, the opinions of others is important to how he defines himself as a man. If the man of the house can’t control his household, then it reflects poorly on his character; it makes him look weak and Jason wants to appear put together and in control. Due to Caddy’s actions in the past, which was the catalyst for the destruction of the Compson family, Jason’s only hope for preserving the family reputation is by preventing Quentin from making the same mistakes as her mother. Jason repeatedly reminds Quentin that he will not allow for her actions or behavior to effect the family and that he will do everything in his power to keep her from destroying what is left of the Compson name, “Everybody in this town knows what you are. But I won’t have it anymore, you hear? I don’t care what you do, myself,” I says. “But I’ve got a position in this town, and I’m not going to have any member of my family going on like a nigger wench. You hear me?” (189). Jason has no emotional attachment to his niece. His only relationship to her is out of obligation for his own personal perseverance and his overall need to save the family name from being completely tarnished.
