Faulkner establishes certain perspectives and situations to express the nature of sin; in fact, it is implied that everybody is born with sin. Society accepts those who have sexual intercourse after marriage. However, Faulkner discusses the topic in two contrasting perspectives — premarital and postmarital sex. Dewey Dell and Lafe, unmarried and young, “picked the sack” and shortly after found out they were having a baby. Not only does society reject this result, but Moseley and MacGOWAN also frown upon it. In terms of Addie and Anse who are married with children, Addie commits the sinful act of partaking in an affair with Reverend Whitfield. She describes this situation with passion, while Cora disapproves of Addie 's choices. Faulkner includes
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When Dewey Dell went to the drug store in hope of getting medicine to stop the baby from coming, Moseley didn 't take her seriously or help her. Instead he proclaimed that she “buy that [referring to a nipple for breastfeeding] and go back home and tell your pa, if you have one, and let him make somebody buy you a wedding license” (201). Moseley doesn’t take Dewey Dell seriously. He informs Dewey Dell to tell her father because he, supposedly, has more authority and should be the person to handle the situation. He views premarital sex negatively. Moseley and MacGOWAN refuse to sell her pills, but are in favor of sending her to the courthouse (242). This is the traditional mindset believing that Dewey Dell is irresponsible and incapable of handling a baby before marriage and in her teens. Moseley and MacGOWAN frown upon her decisions and advise her to tell her father because she doesn 't know what she 's doing. On the other hand, with Addie and Whitfield, it is more of a question based off of sin. Cora believed Addie was never a religious person (166). Her affair with Whitfield deems her as a bad person. Committing an affair is an unjust action and should never be done in the eyes of god (in Cora’s point of view). When Addie exclaimed that Jewel is her salvation, “I [Cora] realised that out of the vanity of her heart she had spoken sacrilege” (168). Although Addie was completely …show more content…
In the end, it 's your decision and whatever happens, happens. When Dewey Dell and Lafe were together, “I [Dewey Dell] said if it don 't mean for me to do it the sack will not be full and I will turn up the next row but if the sack is full, I cannot help it” (27). What happened to Dewey Dell and Lafe, quite early on, cannot be altered. Dewey Dell is stuck with the baby and the choices that she made; she has no power to change what was done. Faulkner suggests that results are inevitable despite differing views and controversy held by other characters. In regards to Addie, Jewel was a product of her “sin.” He was a positive addition to the family and helped them succumb many challenges. For example, without the affair the family would have never received the team of mules. From working long, hard hours at night to clear the fields, Jewel recieved a horse. That horse was later on used to pass a deal, along with other items, to bargain for a team of mules. If it weren 't for Jewel they wouldn 't have gotten a team of mules or Addie’s coffin wouldn 't have been saved from the water or the fire. He was a pivotal member in the Bundren family. Overall, Faulkner emphasizes the idea of self-interest, being able to do what you want. People won 't always agree with you, but that doesn 't mean you shouldn 't do it. The use of many perspectives in As I lay Dying differs from a conservative viewpoint
When Dewey Dell went to the drug store in hope of getting medicine to stop the baby from coming, Moseley didn 't take her seriously or help her. Instead he proclaimed that she “buy that [referring to a nipple for breastfeeding] and go back home and tell your pa, if you have one, and let him make somebody buy you a wedding license” (201). Moseley doesn’t take Dewey Dell seriously. He informs Dewey Dell to tell her father because he, supposedly, has more authority and should be the person to handle the situation. He views premarital sex negatively. Moseley and MacGOWAN refuse to sell her pills, but are in favor of sending her to the courthouse (242). This is the traditional mindset believing that Dewey Dell is irresponsible and incapable of handling a baby before marriage and in her teens. Moseley and MacGOWAN frown upon her decisions and advise her to tell her father because she doesn 't know what she 's doing. On the other hand, with Addie and Whitfield, it is more of a question based off of sin. Cora believed Addie was never a religious person (166). Her affair with Whitfield deems her as a bad person. Committing an affair is an unjust action and should never be done in the eyes of god (in Cora’s point of view). When Addie exclaimed that Jewel is her salvation, “I [Cora] realised that out of the vanity of her heart she had spoken sacrilege” (168). Although Addie was completely …show more content…
In the end, it 's your decision and whatever happens, happens. When Dewey Dell and Lafe were together, “I [Dewey Dell] said if it don 't mean for me to do it the sack will not be full and I will turn up the next row but if the sack is full, I cannot help it” (27). What happened to Dewey Dell and Lafe, quite early on, cannot be altered. Dewey Dell is stuck with the baby and the choices that she made; she has no power to change what was done. Faulkner suggests that results are inevitable despite differing views and controversy held by other characters. In regards to Addie, Jewel was a product of her “sin.” He was a positive addition to the family and helped them succumb many challenges. For example, without the affair the family would have never received the team of mules. From working long, hard hours at night to clear the fields, Jewel recieved a horse. That horse was later on used to pass a deal, along with other items, to bargain for a team of mules. If it weren 't for Jewel they wouldn 't have gotten a team of mules or Addie’s coffin wouldn 't have been saved from the water or the fire. He was a pivotal member in the Bundren family. Overall, Faulkner emphasizes the idea of self-interest, being able to do what you want. People won 't always agree with you, but that doesn 't mean you shouldn 't do it. The use of many perspectives in As I lay Dying differs from a conservative viewpoint