Quentin Compson is obviously a troubled young man. His narration of The Sound and the Fury reflects this. Quentin, unlike Benjy, has a concept of time and can discern memories from the present day. Despite this, Quentin still includes detailed and in depth flashbacks similar to Benjy's section of the story. This shows that Quentin harbors on memories. Just like Benjy his past becomes the present, as he cannot let go of certain memories.  He even criticizes the majority of people, thinking that "they cannot even remember tomorrow what seemed dreadful today One memory in particular that weighs upon his mind is when he found out his little sister, Caddy, lost her virginity. The man who took it, Dalton Ames, floods his consciousness. His obsession of traditional Southern Values, passed onto him by his father, namely female purity in the form of virginity, make it impossible for Quentin to resolve these moments in his head. His inability to console himself ultimately leads to his suicide.

As I stated earlier, Quentin Compson is obsessed with Caddy. However, his other brother, Jason, is obsessed with as well. However, each brother's attention towards Caddy is rooted in differing motivations. Quentin is obsessed with Caddy in a concerned, almost loving way. He despises her promiscuity out of concern for her, as he holds the ideal Southern woman to be above the natural desire of sex. His judgements may be harsh, but he wants for Caddy what he perceives to be the best for her. Jason, on the other hand, bases his obsession with Caddy on malice. Since his childhood, Jason is ruthless. He is constantly looking to tell on people. This hatred to those around him is focused primarily on Caddy. This moves past being selfish, and more into being malicious. Overall, the main difference between the two brother's judgements and obsessions with Caddy is Quentin's is based out of concern while Jason's is guided by hatred.

"When I was little there was a picture in one of our books, a dark place into which a single weak ray of light came slanting upon two faces lifted a queen or fairy she was always a king or a giant or a general  I'd break that place open and drag them out and I'd whip them good   It was torn out, jagged out. I was glad. I'd have to turn back to it until the dungeon was Mother herself."

In this passage, Quentin is reflecting on a particular page of a children's book that became relevant to his life, in the form of his mother. In this passage Quentin views himself as the stalwart protector of correct moral values. He believes he needs to be the one to discipline his family. This passage is mainly concerned with his mother. As the family she grew up in is viewed as less prominent than her husband's, Quentin has less respect for her. By referring to her as the prison described in the children's book, Quentin feels she is causing the downfall of the family, morally at least. This passage is also nostalgic. He again is stuck in the past, this time in a childhood memory. During his formative years, Quentin developed a specific moral compass, basing his beliefs on traditional Southern aristocratic values, such as respect, honor, and purity. He feels an obligation to push these values onto those around him, especially his family.