What event signifies the fall of the Compson family in "The Sound and the Fury"?

The fall of the Compson family in "The Sound and the Fury" is most prominently signified by Caddy's scandal. Caddy's loss of virtue and her pregnancy out of wedlock serve as pivotal moments that mark the family's decline. The scandal disrupts the family's social standing and deeply affects the dynamics within the family. It ultimately leads to a chain reaction of despair and disintegration among the Compsons, symbolizing the loss of old Southern values and the family's inability to cope with changing societal norms.

While other events within the narrative, such as Benjy's disabilities, Quentin's suicide, and Jason's financial decisions, contribute to the family's downfall, Caddy's actions are closely tied to the family's honor and reputation. Her scandal becomes a catalyst for the disintegration of family ties, illustrating how external societal pressures and internal dysfunction create a spiraling descent into ruin for the Compson family. This moment encapsulates the broader themes of shame, honor, and the struggle for identity that permeate Faulkner's work.