Compson
Compson is a surname of English origin that has gained literary prominence through William Faulkner’s fiction. In Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, the Compson family is a once-wealthy Southern aristocratic clan whose fortunes and social standing steadily decline in the early 20th century.
The core members are Quentin Compson, Candace “Caddy” Compson, Jason Compson IV, and Benjy Compson. The Sound
Quentin Compson also appears in Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom! (1936) and is a connecting figure in the broader
In literary studies, the Compson family is often cited as an emblem of Faulkner’s critique of inherited
Beyond Faulkner’s fiction, Compson remains a relatively uncommon surname; it is primarily recognized today for its