The Sound and the Fury Lesson Plan

Why does the novel break from first-person narration for this last section? How does this omniscient voice present a different look at the Compsons than the previous sections? How might the distance help readers better understand the characters?

For some, the omniscient narration makes readers more sympathetic toward the Compsons, as we get to see them as people, instead of being judged by the various narrators. For others, the Compsons come out even worse, as their foibles are presented without embellishment. In either case, the section reveals the Compsons not to be members of a legendary family but rather deeply troubled people buckling under the weight of expectation.