As I Lay Dying Character Analysis
In the novel, As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner writes through the perspectives of several different characters. With this approach, we have a range of lenses to view the story from and are not limited to a single character’s opinion. Entering the story, a family of five children and their father are embarking on a nine day adventure to bury their deceased mother, Addie, in her hometown, Jefferson. Along their trip they encounter several obstacles, leaving Addie and her coffin in poor condition. As the conflict of the Bundren journey rises, Faulkner interrupts the character Darl’s monologue by incorporating a flashback to his memory of the past. We are not only provided with insight into past occurrences but also provides information on certain character’s motives to go to town. This is evident through the character Dewey Dell’s
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He thinks, “And I knew that I knew. I knew that as plain on that day as I knew about Dewey Dell on that day” (136). Darl has discovered that Dewey Dell is pregnant. We can infer that she wants an abortion because she has been keeping the truth hidden from the rest of her family. Dewey Dell follows the family to town not only to honor her mother’s burial, but also for her own selfish desires. She is hypocritical because the original motive of going to Jefferson was to set Addie down, however, Dewey Dell tries to make room for her own benefits, although the journey should have focused entirely on Addie. This unforthcoming information assists in foreshadowing a later scene when Dewey Dell goes to town to find the appropriate medication to terminate her pregnancy without anyone finding out. Overall, reflective of Darl’s escape into the past and the personal thoughts of Dewey Dell, untold information is exposed about Dewey Dell’s unwanted pregnancy, which also explore the dysfunctions of the family as a result of her hypocritical
He thinks, “And I knew that I knew. I knew that as plain on that day as I knew about Dewey Dell on that day” (136). Darl has discovered that Dewey Dell is pregnant. We can infer that she wants an abortion because she has been keeping the truth hidden from the rest of her family. Dewey Dell follows the family to town not only to honor her mother’s burial, but also for her own selfish desires. She is hypocritical because the original motive of going to Jefferson was to set Addie down, however, Dewey Dell tries to make room for her own benefits, although the journey should have focused entirely on Addie. This unforthcoming information assists in foreshadowing a later scene when Dewey Dell goes to town to find the appropriate medication to terminate her pregnancy without anyone finding out. Overall, reflective of Darl’s escape into the past and the personal thoughts of Dewey Dell, untold information is exposed about Dewey Dell’s unwanted pregnancy, which also explore the dysfunctions of the family as a result of her hypocritical