Essay On Dewey Dell's As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying’s farcical nature means individuals rarely grieve for Addie in overt, traditional senses. Rather, grief manifests in complex, divergent, and unexpected ways, providing insight into characters’ emotions. Accordingly, Dewey Dell’s perception of Addie’s death reveals deeper connections. Addie largely neglects Dewey Dell while alive, reflecting, ‘I gave Anse Dewey Dell to negative Jewel’ (162). Addie’s dismissive attitude implies Dewey Dell is ‘motherless’, ostensibly negating her existence; rather than being a distinct individual, she merely exists to rectify an error. Addie’s resentment is reiterated, as she ignores Dewey Dell’s final request for attention: “‘Ma,’ [Dewey Dell] says; ‘ma.’ She is looking out the window, at Cash…‘You …show more content…
Tellingly, Darl’s account of Dewey Dell’s speech patterns “‘Cash,’ she says; Cash” (146) mirrors Addie’s dying words “‘Cash,’ she says; you Cash” (40). These parallels suggest Dewey Dell partially becomes her mother, further symbolising her latent grief, and subconscious desire Addie’s approval. Moreover, Dewey Dell’s mothering behavior is juxtaposed with her quest for an abortion. This multifaceted behavior reflects Addie’s complex relationship with her eldest sons, who were “of me and all that lived, and of none at all” (160). Addie’s immediate contrast between everything and nothing highlights her intricate, fluctuating conceptions of motherhood. Likewise, Dewey Dell requires an abortion, while simultaneously mothering her siblings. Cumulatively, analyses indicate Dewey Dell’s underlying grief for, and connection to, Addie. Although Dewey Dell is forced to suppress her feelings, grief manifests through her mothering tendencies, revealing parallels with Addie. Ultimately, instead of resenting her mother’s rejection, Dewey Dell takes over her role, suggesting a desire for posthumous