As I Lay Dying Analysis

Most works of literature often use events and objects to display a deeper meaning to the current situation. In As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, there are many references that connect the Bundren family to mythological, Biblical, and classical allusions. Faulkner’s use of various types of allusions emphasizes the characters’ behavior and relationship to each other.

In As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner the reader gets to see how hard life is for the Bundren family. The Bundren’s face many obstacles throughout the book and somehow manage to come through most of them okay. The family fulfills their desires along the way to relieve them of these struggles. The main theme in As I Lay Dying is family dysfunction, and this family dysfunction leads to Darl’s insanity.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light” (). Ever since the creation of mankind, the eyes exist as the window to the soul. Taking one look into a person's eyes can leave you with more knowledge than ever thought imagined. Love, anger, lust, hatred, sympathy and guilt can all express themselves in just one glance. William Faulkner knew of this interesting trait and applied it to his 19___’s novel “As I Lay Dying”. Each character possesses their own unique traits and personalities which drive them to fulfill their end mission: burying their mother in Jefferson. To express their personalities, Faulkner incorporates a variety of similes and metaphors all relating to the eyes. This technique sheds light of their selfish ways. These selfish qualities, not the love for their mother, cause the Bundren children to succeed in their mother's dying wish.

1. Which are the most intelligent and sympathetic voices in the novel? With whom do you most and least identify? Is Faulkner controlling your closeness to some characters and not others? How is this done, given the seemingly equal mode of presentation for all voices?

William Faulkner uses language in a unique way in his novel As I Lay Dying. Language is a form of expression to show thoughts and emotions. Faulkner uses it to convey the individual characters’ thoughts and feelings. He also uses it to draw a line between language and true expression. He shows the limitations of language and the difference between language and words.

The author of As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner, really contributes to the aspects of literature through his ability to tell a seemingly incredible story through only the “stream-of-consciousness” technique. Faulkner takes his insight beyond the piece, through other’s views and thoughts. Although the characters might be acting differently upon each subject or handling each action in opposite ways, the tone and theme that he uses really brings the whole piece to a perfect balance. In As I Lay Dying, Faulkner displays contradicting elements through the reactions of the family members towards the mother’s death with the use of dialogue, tone, imagery, and internal conflict.

William Faulkner’s use of interior monologue in as As I Lay Dying allows the reader to experience the story from more then one persons perspective. Through the thoughts of Darl Bundren the reader comes to understand what is going on within the family. On the other hand Anse Bundren allows the reader to get a different perspective on the family. The reader gets the perspective of an outsider through Cora Tull’s narration. The make up of these characters as well as others allows the reader to see all sides of the story.

The book, As I Lay Dying, written by William Faulkner, tells a story of how a mother named Addie died and now the children of the family are coping with the loss of their mother and then setting off to a journey for her burial located in Jefferson. Throughout the story, each character has their way of coping with loss and by doing so, reveals more and more about themselves. Thus, there are many elements in the story that express unconscious desires or inner feelings of characters that show the psychoanalytic viewpoint in the story.

Towards the end of the novel, Cash is found washed on shore, with a broken leg. It is clear that Cash is in immense pain, but his only response is “it wasn’t on a balance”, in reference to Addie’s coffin (Faulkner 165). Cash doesn’t get upset or place the blame, he simply gives a just explanation for what happened. When Cash speaks, he leaves out his emotion and feelings, and only says what he feels needs to be said. This is a trait that also makes him an honest narrator.

In William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, trying to find and express your identity and individuality amongst a large, dysfunctional family can prove difficult, especially with a society that forces its standards and expectations on you as well. Addie Bundren possessed qualities and viewpoints most others did not. She found words useless while actions are what held real meaning, yet her whole life had seemed to be made up of words. As her dying wish, she asked her husband to perform an action – taking her to Jefferson to be buried. Darl Bundren was considered the queer one among the family.

The conversation to redefine gender roles is often dominated by polarized extremes. In As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner explores the social and psychological effects of the traditional southern female gender role with the character Addie Bundren. Through Addie’s narrative, Faulkner presents the struggles of a woman as she lives the oppressive consequences of expressing her sexuality: childbearing and motherhood. The same consequences are reflected in the destruction of the life of Addie’s unwed daughter, Dewey Dell. Through these women’s stories ,Faulkner reveals the damaging effect of institutional patriarchy in women’s lives as storyteller rather than feminist.

Faulkner’s use of southern gothic writing style helps the reader build a mental depiction of Miss Emily. When the town sent their ambassadors to discuss the taxes that were owed, Faulkner described Miss Emily as “bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water” (2182). This description gives the reader the sense that the character is not well. Faulkner’s description that Miss Emily looked bloated achieves the desired effect on the reader to show how hideous she appears. This graphic description, combined with the author’s depressing description of the parlor (2182), makes the reader think of death. The reader gets the sense of being in a funeral parlor which helps to strengthen Faulkner’s narrative.

In his novel “As I Lay Dying” William Faulkner the job of narrator is divided amongst a large number of character both Bundren and non-Bundren. Through the novel each of the narrator is given a chance to express their own view of how a situation went or how it looks. Now while the main number of narrators are members of the Bundren family the family is comprised of the least reliable narrators. In fact the best sources of information in the story usually come from narrator’s outside the family.

In William Faulkner’s (1897-1962) fiction, Donald Mahon in Soldier’s Pay1 (1926) and Addie Bundren in As I Lay Dying2 (1931) are lying in bed; these are not simple beds to rest; these are the death beds. Donald Mahon is brought almost dead from the war and Addie Bundren is about to die with her single wish to be buried in Jefferson, among her own people before her marriage. Only difference is that Donald is unconscious while Addie is conscious in the beginning of the novel. Both have become touchstone to judge the real worth of relations in the existing world.

“Stopping by the woods”, and “live like you were dying” both have similarities.They are the same because there is stuff in the song that relates to stuff in the poem. Both stories talk about not giving up, and to keep trying. Both the song and the story talk about living life to the fullest. Both talk about taking adventures and taking risks.