William Faulkner's use of stream-of-consciousness narration in "The Sound and the Fury" is significant as it serves to deeply immerse the reader in the characters' inner lives and provides an intimate portrayal of their thoughts and feelings. This technique is particularly vital for the storytelling and character development in the novel for several reasons: 1. **Psychological depth**: Through stream-of-consciousness, Faulkner allows readers to access the mental and emotional states of the characters directly. This raw and unfiltered narration delivers a profound understanding of the characters' motivations and struggles. 2. **Nonlinear narrative**: "The Sound and the Fury" employs a non-traditional, disjointed narrative structure that mirrors the chaotic flow of consciousness. By presenting the story out of chronological order, Faulkner reflects the way that memory and perception are fragmented and subjective, which can help readers understand the existential dilemmas faced by the characters. 3. **Character relatability**: By using this technique, Faulkner creates voices so authentic that readers can empathize with the characters, even if they don't agree with their actions or thoughts. It encourages readers to explore complex emotional landscapes, making the characters more relatable and human. 4. **Expression of theme**: The disjointed and sometimes confusing narration resembles the disintegration of the Compson family and the old Southern values they represent. The modernist concern with time, memory, and decay is vividly rendered through the fragmented accounts of the same events by different narrators. 5. **Distinct voices**: The stream-of-consciousness technique helps in distinguishing the characters through their unique patterns of thoughts. The difference in intellectual abilities and emotional maturity becomes evident, particularly when comparing the mental landscapes of characters such as Benjy, a mentally disabled man, and Quentin, a highly introspective but troubled intellectual. 6. **Innovation in storytelling**: Faulkner's approach pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative and challenges the readers to piece together the story from the intertwining inner monologues of the characters. This makes the act of reading "The Sound and the Fury" a more engaging and participatory experience. In conclusion, Faulkner's use of stream-of-consciousness in "The Sound and the Fury" is an integral part of the novel's exploration of the human psyche and contributes significantly to its narrative complexity. It shapes the way the story is told and how the characters are developed, leaving a lasting impact on the reader's understanding of the novel's themes and the Compson family's tragic downfall.