As I Lay Dying

By William Faulkner

“As I Lay Dying” is a gripping novel by William Faulkner that tells the story of the Bundren family’s arduous journey to bury their matriarch, Addie Bundren. Faulkner masterfully employs literary devices such as stream of consciousness, multiple narrators, and symbolism to create a deeply immersive and thought-provoking narrative. Vivid imagery, irony, and repetition further enrich this captivating exploration of family dynamics, grief, and human resilience, making it an unforgettable reading experience.

Themes 📚

1. Mortality and Grief

“As I Lay Dying” grapples with the themes of mortality and grief as the Bundren family deals with the death of their matriarch, Addie. The novel explores the family’s emotional responses to loss, as well as the physical and psychological challenges they face on their journey to bury Addie.

2. Family Dynamics

The novel delves into the complex relationships between the Bundren family members, examining how each individual copes with Addie’s death and the challenges it presents. This theme highlights the tensions, conflicts, and moments of connection that arise within the family unit.

3. Suffering and Resilience

Throughout their journey, the Bundren family experiences physical and emotional suffering, from the harsh Mississippi landscape to the personal struggles each character faces. The novel explores the theme of human resilience in the face of adversity, as the family perseveres despite the hardships they endure.

4. Identity and Self-Discovery

The novel’s multiple narrators and stream of consciousness technique provide readers with intimate insights into the characters’ thoughts and emotions, as they grapple with questions of identity and self-discovery. Each character’s internal struggles contribute to a broader exploration of personal growth and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.

5. Duty and Responsibility

The theme of duty and responsibility runs throughout the novel, as the Bundren family embarks on their journey to fulfill Addie’s dying wish to be buried in her hometown. The characters’ actions and motivations are shaped by their sense of obligation to both Addie and the family as a whole, leading to both acts of loyalty and moments of betrayal.

Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽

1. Stream of consciousness

Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique that captures the continuous flow of a character’s thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. Faulkner uses this device to provide readers with an intimate understanding of each character’s perspective and emotions.

2. Multiple narrators

The novel is told from the perspectives of 15 different characters, each with their own unique voice and point of view. This narrative choice creates a rich and layered portrayal of the Bundren family’s experiences and individual struggles.

3. Symbolism

Faulkner employs symbolism to convey deeper meaning and thematic significance throughout the novel. Objects, events, and characters serve as symbols that reveal underlying themes and ideas, enriching the narrative and engaging the reader on multiple levels.

4. Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing involves the use of hints or clues to suggest future events in the story. Faulkner uses this technique to create anticipation and build tension throughout the novel, while also offering insight into the characters and themes.

5. Imagery

Imagery refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language to create a mental picture for the reader. Faulkner’s evocative imagery helps to establish a sense of place and atmosphere, immersing the reader in the novel’s setting and enhancing the impact of its themes.

6. Irony

Irony creates contrasts between appearance and reality, expectations and outcomes, or intention and effect. This technique adds depth and nuance to the novel’s themes and characters, revealing complexities and contradictions in the world of the Bundren family.

7. Repetition

Repetition is used to emphasize important ideas and motifs in the novel. By repeating certain phrases or images, Faulkner reinforces key themes and creates a sense of cohesion and unity in the narrative.

8. Allusion

Allusion is a reference to another work of literature, historical event, or cultural figure. Faulkner’s use of allusions connects “As I Lay Dying” to a broader cultural and historical context, enhancing its relevance and resonance for readers.

9. Diction

Faulkner’s choice of words, or diction, plays a crucial role in shaping the novel’s tone, atmosphere, and characterization. The author’s use of dialect and colloquial language lends authenticity to the characters and setting, while also contributing to the novel’s thematic exploration of regional identity and cultural difference.

10. Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition involves placing contrasting elements side by side to emphasize their differences or create a striking effect. In “As I Lay Dying,” Faulkner juxtaposes the perspectives of different characters, as well as contrasting images and themes, to create a multifaceted and nuanced portrait of the Bundren family’s journey.

Examples of Literary Devices 📋

1. Stream of consciousness

Example	Explanation
Darl’s inner monologue	Darl’s chapters often use stream of consciousness to reveal his introspective nature and deep connection to his surroundings, such as when he contemplates the nature of existence while looking at the horizon.
Vardaman’s thought process	Vardaman’s fragmented thoughts and childlike understanding are portrayed through stream of consciousness, as seen when he tries to make sense of his mother’s death by associating her with a dead fish.
Addie’s reflections	In Addie’s only chapter, her stream of consciousness narration provides insight into her thoughts on life, death, and her relationships with her family members.

2. Multiple narrators

Example	Explanation
Darl	Darl serves as a primary narrator and offers a sensitive and introspective perspective on the family’s journey, often commenting on the emotions and actions of other characters.
Jewel	Jewel’s narration reveals his fierce loyalty to his mother and the internal conflict he experiences as a result of his illegitimate birth and strained relationship with his siblings.
Dewey Dell	Dewey Dell’s perspective provides insight into her feelings of vulnerability, fear, and desperation as she struggles with an unwanted pregnancy and the responsibility of caring for her family.

3. Symbolism

Example	Explanation
Addie’s coffin	The coffin symbolizes the burden of grief and responsibility that the Bundren family carries, as well as the physical manifestation of Addie’s presence throughout the journey.
The broken bridge	The broken bridge represents the obstacles and challenges the family faces on their journey, both literal and metaphorical.
Vardaman’s fish	The fish serves as a symbol for Vardaman’s struggle to comprehend his mother’s death and the impermanence of life.

4. Foreshadowing

Example	Explanation
Buzzards circling the wagon	The presence of buzzards foreshadows the decay and ruin that await the Bundren family on their journey, as well as the physical deterioration of Addie’s corpse.
Darl’s growing disconnect from reality	Darl’s increasingly introspective and cryptic thoughts foreshadow his eventual mental breakdown and institutionalization.
Anse’s determination to get new teeth	Anse’s obsession with obtaining new teeth foreshadows his selfishness and disregard for his family’s well-being, which becomes apparent at the end of the novel when he introduces a new wife and proudly displays his new teeth.

5. Imagery

Example	Explanation
The Mississippi landscape	Faulkner’s vivid descriptions of the rural Mississippi setting create a sense of place and atmosphere, immersing the reader in the world of the novel.
The raging river	The imagery of the dangerous, swollen river underscores the physical challenges the family faces and heightens the tension during their crossing.
Addie’s rotting corpse	The gruesome imagery of Addie’s decaying body serves as a constant reminder of the family’s grief and the passage of time during their journey.

6. Irony

Example	Explanation
Anse’s devotion to Addie	The irony of Anse’s professed love for Addie and his subsequent actions, such as quickly remarrying and using the family’s ordeal to obtain new teeth, highlights his selfishness and hypocrisy.
Cash’s broken leg	Cash, the skilled carpenter who meticulously builds Addie’s coffin, ironically ends up with a poorly treated broken leg, which further emphasizes the family’s inability to care for one another and their tendency to create more problems.

7. Repetition

Example	Explanation
“My mother is a fish”	Vardaman’s repeated assertion that his mother is a fish emphasizes his struggle to comprehend her death and the concept of mortality.
“I can’t be a mother”	Dewey Dell’s repetition of this phrase highlights her feelings of vulnerability, inadequacy, and fear in the face of her unwanted pregnancy.
“I have a reason”	Anse’s insistence that he has a reason for every action he takes serves to justify his selfish behavior and reinforce his misguided sense of responsibility.

8. Allusion

Example	Explanation
Biblical allusions	The novel contains numerous allusions to the Bible, such as references to the story of Cain and Abel in the context of the rivalry between Darl and Jewel.
Classical allusions	Faulkner alludes to classical literature, such as when he compares the Bundren family’s journey to a Greek tragedy or a medieval morality play.
Southern culture	The novel is steeped in references to Southern culture and history, connecting the Bundren family’s experiences to a broader regional context.

9. Diction

Example	Explanation
Dialect and colloquialisms	The use of dialect and colloquial language adds authenticity to the characters and setting, as well as contributing to the novel’s exploration of regional identity.
Vardaman’s childish language	Vardaman’s simple and fragmented language reflects his youth and limited understanding of the world, emphasizing his vulnerability and confusion.
Darl’s poetic language	Darl’s eloquent and introspective language sets him apart from the other characters and underscores his sensitivity and heightened awareness of his surroundings.

10. Juxtaposition

Example	Explanation
Darl and Vardaman’s perspectives	The juxtaposition of Darl’s introspective, poetic language and Vardaman’s fragmented, childlike thoughts emphasizes the contrast between their different levels of understanding and emotional maturity.
Jewel’s love for Addie and resentment toward Anse	The contrast between Jewel’s fierce loyalty to Addie and his resentment toward Anse highlights the complex emotions and conflicting loyalties within the family.
The harsh journey and moments of tenderness	The juxtaposition of the family’s difficult journey and moments of compassion and connection emphasizes the novel’s themes of suffering, resilience, and the human capacity for love and empathy.

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