The novel is set in the fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, and revolves around the decline of the Compson family, a once-prominent Southern aristocratic family. The story is told through four non-linear narrative sections, each from a different character's perspective: Benjy Compson, Quentin Compson, Jason Compson, and an omniscient narrator. This non-linear structure allows Faulkner to experiment with time and narrative, mirroring the disjointed and fragmented nature of human experience.