As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying is one of the best novels of the 20th century. It is a Southern Gothic novel, published in 1930. The author’s fifth novel, it has been consistently ranked among the best novels of the 20th century. The novel explores the lives of a series of troubled souls who are trying to find meaning in their life.

Characters

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is a Southern Gothic novel set in 1930. It is Faulkner’s fifth novel and is consistently ranked among the greatest novels of the twentieth century. Faulkner’s characters are believable, and the story is gripping.

The novel explores the inadequacy of language. It suggests that words are invented by people who have never experienced a concept. Once you have experienced it, the words cease to be useful. This is particularly evident in the way the characters communicate with one another. Much of the novel is made up of lengthy inner monologues, and spoken words are frequently misunderstood.

Faulkner uses several narrators throughout As I Lay Dying to illustrate the many different viewpoints on the same events and ethical dilemmas. Dewey Dell, for instance, is motivated by abortion. Vardaman, on the other hand, is motivated by his love of bananas. It is difficult to know what motivates Jewel, and we can only guess her motives through the other characters. Even so, the reader may be confused as to why she loves Anse.

Setting

Setting is an important element in the novel As I Lay Dying. The novel is set in a fictional Mississippi county called Yoknapatawpha. The story shifts between the town of Jefferson and the family’s rural farm. The novel is set in a rural environment and depicts the difficulties that people face on a daily basis.

The novel is set in the early twentieth century in the Deep South. Addie Bundren is killed in the country and her family is forced to travel hundreds of miles to transport her body to Jefferson. During the nine-day trek, the family is exposed to diverse milieu. For instance, the Bundren family travels from a remote farm to a city called Jefferson in order to buy new teeth and remarry. They also travel to Jefferson in order to obtain an abortion.

Theme

William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, is a classic example of a modernist novel. Its structure incorporates multiple narrators with varying points of view. Themes are explored through various characters’ personal beliefs, such as those of Christianity and Islam.

The title is a reference to Addie Bundren, a woman who has recently lost her life. She watches her son build her coffin as her family gathers around her deathbed. Throughout the novel, dying buzzards fill the sky, and she watches her family assemble her coffin.

Narrative style

The textual voice of As I Lay Dying breaks down the traditional boundaries of mimesis. The text contains textual voices that are evocative, despite the fact that they are inherently unrelatable and unintelligible. While reading this novel, one must keep in mind the author’s purpose in presenting his story.

The story of As I Lay Dying is told through multiple narrators, each bringing a different perspective to the events of the novel. In many ways, this technique is considered a modernist technique. Faulkner uses it to convey the novel’s message to the readers. He also uses it to emphasize themes and structure of the novel.

In As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner uses the narrative style to explore themes such as the unreliability of narration, the constructive nature of literature, and the relationship between language and perspective. His novel also comments on Bergson’s distinction between subjective and phycological time.

Theme of the novel

As I Lay Dying explores the theme of sanity and how fragile it is. It juxtaposes the “insane” character Darl with the characters that society considers sane. Darl’s words often link with the thoughts in others’ minds, which makes him both provocative and insightful. Yet, his mother and his wife did not like words.

The novel was a landmark novel when it was published. It used a stream-of-consciousness writing technique and multiple narrators to delve into the characters’ lives. As a result, it set the bar for future novels by unconventional authors. Ultimately, it established Faulkner’s reputation as a stream-of-consciousness writer.

This novel deals with a recurring theme in American literature. It explores the hidden grief in each of the characters’ souls. In addition, Faulkner uses his writing style to highlight the importance of the themes in the novel.