Setting The book takes place during the 1920s in a fictional town know as Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. Throughout the course of the novel, they will travel nine days from their home to Jefferson. White people in the South always had racial issues with African Americans. With the novel set in the 1920s, it becomes apparent when Vardaman reveals that Cash’s “‘foot looks like a nigger’s foot” (Faulkner 224). Since they live in the South, it is socially acceptable to use derogatory words to compare similar characteristics. Since they used the word “nigger’s” and “negroes” freely in context, the cultural backdrop shows racism deeply rooted in these individuals (Faulkner 224, 229). They only once happen to see a river along the way, but they
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The first example of suffering emerges when Jewel argues that “‘He aint never been beholden to no man,’” he says. ‘I rather pay you for it’” (Faulkner 116). Jewel picks up traits from his family, Anse would rather sacrifice his money to grasp his pride, and Jewel listened to his father. Anse’s sons almost die because they ford the river, and Anse affirms “was there ere a such misfortunate man” (Faulkner 163). A few days Addie has already died, she narrates another chapter. She states, “my father said that the reason for living is getting ready to stay dead” (Faulkner 175). This is the perfect spot to mention Addie again after she died because it shows that her father never viewed life as something to be grateful for and to live everyday to its last; rather, he tells her a harsh reality that suffering and mortality should be expected in life. Anse also expresses his thoughts on why people suffer when he reflects, “‘God knows, it’s a trial on me. Seems like there aint no end to bad luck when once it starts’” (Faulkner 233). He recognizes the hardships and the pain the family endures, so he makes it clear that he appreciates what they do. The Minister Witfield travels to the Bundren’s house, and he repeats, “‘The Lord comfort this house. . .His grace be upon this house’” (Faulkner 88). This should be a clear signal that the Bundren’s need all the support …show more content…
Ahead of his time, Faulkner uses a technique called stream-of-consciousness, where the character says what they think instead of the author filling in as a narrator or framing the story. Darl displays this style the best because he consistently grows more crazy throughout the book, and he states “Darl has gone to Jackson. . .‘What are you laughing at?’ I said” (Faulkner 253). This shows how anyone’s normal mind jumps from one thought to another, and how Faulkner succeeded in achieving this style. He has so much extra context in his writing, many have to dig deeper in order to find out the true meaning behind one sentence. This also leaves a great deal up to interpretation because of his broad writing techniques. The way his style shifts from one character to the next shows Faulkner’s exceptional writing skills. It is so effortless to think in the family’s perspective, Faulkner uses other outside townsmen to remind how crazy the Bundren’s look. Darl’s sections of the book is the most difficult to understand because of the complexity of his thought process. He thinks haphazardly, but he has a different intelligence from the rest of his family. Cash cannot think about two things at once; rather, “he is fitting two pieces of the boards together” and thinks how “Addie Bundren could not want a better one, a better [coffin] to lie in” (Faulkner 4, 5). Rather than thinking of multiple events at once like Darl, Cash is
The first example of suffering emerges when Jewel argues that “‘He aint never been beholden to no man,’” he says. ‘I rather pay you for it’” (Faulkner 116). Jewel picks up traits from his family, Anse would rather sacrifice his money to grasp his pride, and Jewel listened to his father. Anse’s sons almost die because they ford the river, and Anse affirms “was there ere a such misfortunate man” (Faulkner 163). A few days Addie has already died, she narrates another chapter. She states, “my father said that the reason for living is getting ready to stay dead” (Faulkner 175). This is the perfect spot to mention Addie again after she died because it shows that her father never viewed life as something to be grateful for and to live everyday to its last; rather, he tells her a harsh reality that suffering and mortality should be expected in life. Anse also expresses his thoughts on why people suffer when he reflects, “‘God knows, it’s a trial on me. Seems like there aint no end to bad luck when once it starts’” (Faulkner 233). He recognizes the hardships and the pain the family endures, so he makes it clear that he appreciates what they do. The Minister Witfield travels to the Bundren’s house, and he repeats, “‘The Lord comfort this house. . .His grace be upon this house’” (Faulkner 88). This should be a clear signal that the Bundren’s need all the support …show more content…
Ahead of his time, Faulkner uses a technique called stream-of-consciousness, where the character says what they think instead of the author filling in as a narrator or framing the story. Darl displays this style the best because he consistently grows more crazy throughout the book, and he states “Darl has gone to Jackson. . .‘What are you laughing at?’ I said” (Faulkner 253). This shows how anyone’s normal mind jumps from one thought to another, and how Faulkner succeeded in achieving this style. He has so much extra context in his writing, many have to dig deeper in order to find out the true meaning behind one sentence. This also leaves a great deal up to interpretation because of his broad writing techniques. The way his style shifts from one character to the next shows Faulkner’s exceptional writing skills. It is so effortless to think in the family’s perspective, Faulkner uses other outside townsmen to remind how crazy the Bundren’s look. Darl’s sections of the book is the most difficult to understand because of the complexity of his thought process. He thinks haphazardly, but he has a different intelligence from the rest of his family. Cash cannot think about two things at once; rather, “he is fitting two pieces of the boards together” and thinks how “Addie Bundren could not want a better one, a better [coffin] to lie in” (Faulkner 4, 5). Rather than thinking of multiple events at once like Darl, Cash is