Often in literature, characters embark on a physical journey from one place to another and along the way, they are usually presented with obstacles that they must overcome to reach their final destination. These obstacles along the journey give insight into who the characters truly are as well as offering unique bonding experiences for those taking the journey. In the end, they will usually reveal their true personality, grow as characters or grow closer to those accompanying them on the journey. This is not the case in William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying. The characters behave quite differently than traditional literary characters in that they don’t grow wiser by the end of the journey. Instead, the physical journey taken by the Bundrens
…show more content…
However, not long after Addie dies and requests to be buried in Jefferson, it is revealed that the family is in fact extremely self-absorbed and are unable to show true love towards one another. Addie’s husband, Anse, is the first to speak up after her death. Immediately following her death, he says “’God’s will be done, […] Now I can get them teeth.” (52). In most cases, a husband will mourn the death of his wife but Anse offers Addie no such respect. Instead, his selfish nature leads him to essentially ignore his wife’s death and comment on how he can finally go to Jefferson and gain something for himself. In addition to Anse, Dewey Dell also hopes to travel to Jefferson for her own selfish gain. After arriving in Mottson, Dewey Dell enters a druggist’s store and asks for an abortion. She says to the druggist, “’Lafe said I could get it at the drugstore. He said to tell you me and him wouldn’t never tell nobody you sold it to us” (202). Similar to her father, Dewey Dell takes the physical journey not to honor her mother’s dying wishes but for her own selfish gain. At the beginning of the novel, both Anse and Dewey Dell decide to make the trip to Jefferson for personal gain and at the end of the novel, that selfish characteristic remains. On the contrary to a traditional literary character, they remain unchanged by the journey and as a result, the journey adds to …show more content…
She can’t exactly be blamed for this mistake the first time because as a poor family in the Deep South during this time, she was most likely uneducated. The language Faulkner uses to narrate her passage shows a limited thought process and thus a limited understanding of the repercussions of her actions. However, she refers to her pregnancy as a burden throughout and novel and hopes to get an abortion in town. After dealing with such a difficult burden, it seems logical that Dewey Dell wouldn’t make the same mistake again but in Mottson, Dewey Dell doesn’t learn from her past mistakes and sleeps with
However, not long after Addie dies and requests to be buried in Jefferson, it is revealed that the family is in fact extremely self-absorbed and are unable to show true love towards one another. Addie’s husband, Anse, is the first to speak up after her death. Immediately following her death, he says “’God’s will be done, […] Now I can get them teeth.” (52). In most cases, a husband will mourn the death of his wife but Anse offers Addie no such respect. Instead, his selfish nature leads him to essentially ignore his wife’s death and comment on how he can finally go to Jefferson and gain something for himself. In addition to Anse, Dewey Dell also hopes to travel to Jefferson for her own selfish gain. After arriving in Mottson, Dewey Dell enters a druggist’s store and asks for an abortion. She says to the druggist, “’Lafe said I could get it at the drugstore. He said to tell you me and him wouldn’t never tell nobody you sold it to us” (202). Similar to her father, Dewey Dell takes the physical journey not to honor her mother’s dying wishes but for her own selfish gain. At the beginning of the novel, both Anse and Dewey Dell decide to make the trip to Jefferson for personal gain and at the end of the novel, that selfish characteristic remains. On the contrary to a traditional literary character, they remain unchanged by the journey and as a result, the journey adds to …show more content…
She can’t exactly be blamed for this mistake the first time because as a poor family in the Deep South during this time, she was most likely uneducated. The language Faulkner uses to narrate her passage shows a limited thought process and thus a limited understanding of the repercussions of her actions. However, she refers to her pregnancy as a burden throughout and novel and hopes to get an abortion in town. After dealing with such a difficult burden, it seems logical that Dewey Dell wouldn’t make the same mistake again but in Mottson, Dewey Dell doesn’t learn from her past mistakes and sleeps with