The word “family” often has the connotation of a warm, loving environment, yet a family can also be distant and show autonomy between individuals. This idea of autonomy between individuals within the family can cause a scornful environment for its members. A fruitless environment, such as the one in William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying, can cause the individuals in a family to split and become egotistical. In William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying, he depicts autonomy within the Bundren family through symbolism, his character interactions, and dichotomy. William Faulkner, born September 25, 1897, in New Albany, Mississippi, was an American novelist who, in his early years, was known for his poetry, but was later known for his novels.
…show more content…
As I Lay Dying is a narrative novel that is set in Mississippi during the 1920s. As I Lay Dying is narrated by a diverse range of major characters and minor characters. With their recently deceased mother, the novel focuses on the Bundren family and their journey to bury their mother with her kin in Jefferson County. Each member of the Bundren family has their own agenda to attend to in Jefferson and the Bundren’s face many tribulations on their journey that cause major setbacks and conflict within the family ("Overview: As I Lay Dying"). As I Lay Dying revolves around the Bundren family that consists of Anse, Addie, Cash, Darl, Dewey Dell, Jewel, and Vardaman. As I Lay Dying begins with Addie’s sons, Darl and Jewel, who leave to do a job that will earn the family a few dollars even though they will miss the death of their sickly mother. After Darl and Jewel return the family sets off for Jefferson where Addie wishes to be buried with her kin. The storms from the previous night have wrecked havoc and washed away the bridge necessary to get to Jefferson. The Bundrens rest at a farm and later go to the river to find a part that is fordable. When the Bundrens ford the river, the current catches the wagon and it drags it and Addie’s coffin away. During the process of saving Addie’s coffin, Cash breaks his leg and their team of mules die. The Bundrens rest at another farm to recuperate and buy another team of mules. Anse sells Jewel’s horse, without his knowledge, for money to buy another team of mules. The Bundrens set off again but the stench of Addie’s decaying body draws attention from buzzards and people. While the Bundrens are staying at another farm, Darl sets the barn on fire in order to get rid of Addie’s coffin with her inside. Jewel heroically risks his life to save Addie’s coffin from the inferno inside the barn. The Bundrens make it to Jefferson the next day and
As I Lay Dying is a narrative novel that is set in Mississippi during the 1920s. As I Lay Dying is narrated by a diverse range of major characters and minor characters. With their recently deceased mother, the novel focuses on the Bundren family and their journey to bury their mother with her kin in Jefferson County. Each member of the Bundren family has their own agenda to attend to in Jefferson and the Bundren’s face many tribulations on their journey that cause major setbacks and conflict within the family ("Overview: As I Lay Dying"). As I Lay Dying revolves around the Bundren family that consists of Anse, Addie, Cash, Darl, Dewey Dell, Jewel, and Vardaman. As I Lay Dying begins with Addie’s sons, Darl and Jewel, who leave to do a job that will earn the family a few dollars even though they will miss the death of their sickly mother. After Darl and Jewel return the family sets off for Jefferson where Addie wishes to be buried with her kin. The storms from the previous night have wrecked havoc and washed away the bridge necessary to get to Jefferson. The Bundrens rest at a farm and later go to the river to find a part that is fordable. When the Bundrens ford the river, the current catches the wagon and it drags it and Addie’s coffin away. During the process of saving Addie’s coffin, Cash breaks his leg and their team of mules die. The Bundrens rest at another farm to recuperate and buy another team of mules. Anse sells Jewel’s horse, without his knowledge, for money to buy another team of mules. The Bundrens set off again but the stench of Addie’s decaying body draws attention from buzzards and people. While the Bundrens are staying at another farm, Darl sets the barn on fire in order to get rid of Addie’s coffin with her inside. Jewel heroically risks his life to save Addie’s coffin from the inferno inside the barn. The Bundrens make it to Jefferson the next day and