In Darl’s final chapter, Darl’s verification of insanity reveals the novel's theme of perception of reality. Before Darl burned down Gillespie's barn, it was appropriate for the reader to view him as the most rational member of the family; thus, being the most reliant narrator of the story. For instance, he was able to narrate Addie’s death without infiltrating it with his emotions or opinions. However, as soon as the barn burns down, we see a sudden change in his character. He cries for the first time in the novel, indicating that he has become weak. Following this, we see that he has become completely mad in his final monologue. In his monologue, he even speaks in third-person. This is ironic because as a madman, he is no longer the person
