Often times in literature, analytical characters are perceived as unattached and unemotional. It can make them seem ostracised from society, and as though they don’t care about others. However, there are times in which this type of character is needed in order to stabilize things, and to provide a rational outlook. In the novel As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, the oldest Bundren child, Cash Bundren, is a straightforward person. Cash doesn’t speak a lot, because he only says what truly needs to be said, and in that, Cash only does things that seem like a logical course of events. Cash is a character that helps the story of the bundrens be told rationally, and grounded. Many of his actions result in being unintentionally selfless, which help make Cash rise to a quiet leadership role in the Bundren family. Repeatedly throughout the novel, Cash sees …show more content…
He does not voice his opinion a lot, and only says what he thinks is relevant. In the first opportunity that Cash is given to narrate, Cash provides a list of reasoning as to why he built his mom’s coffin on a slant. This is true to his character, as the entire section is devoted to justifying one of his actions. Both the subject of his response, and the format in which it is written is logical and rational. Towards the end of the novel, Cash is found washed on shore, with a broken leg. It is clear that Cash is in immense pain, but his only response is “it wasn’t on a balance”, in reference to Addie’s coffin (Faulkner 165). Cash doesn’t get upset or place the blame, he simply gives a just explanation for what happened. When Cash speaks, he leaves out his emotion and feelings, and only says what he feels needs to be said. This is a trait that also makes him an honest narrator. While other sections may be skewed because of bias or level of sanity, Cash’s point of view is straightforward and accurate. It helps keep the plot from
Most works of literature often use events and objects to display a deeper meaning to the current situation. In As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, there are many references that connect the Bundren family to mythological, Biblical, and classical allusions. Faulkner’s use of various types of allusions emphasizes the characters’ behavior and relationship to each other.
Choose a play or novel in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character's alienation reveals the surrounding society's assumptions and moral values.”
Family Dysfunction is the main theme in As I Lay Dying. The reader can see this from the beginning when Cash is building a coffin outside his mother’s window, where she can see it. Surprisingly, Addie does not seem offended of her son building her casket outside the window. Right before she dies, she asks her husband to do her a favor and
• What are the characters’ emotions, attitudes, and behaviors? What do these indicate to the reader about the character?
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light” (). Ever since the creation of mankind, the eyes exist as the window to the soul. Taking one look into a person's eyes can leave you with more knowledge than ever thought imagined. Love, anger, lust, hatred, sympathy and guilt can all express themselves in just one glance. William Faulkner knew of this interesting trait and applied it to his 19___’s novel “As I Lay Dying”. Each character possesses their own unique traits and personalities which drive them to fulfill their end mission: burying their mother in Jefferson. To express their personalities, Faulkner incorporates a variety of similes and metaphors all relating to the eyes. This technique sheds light of their selfish ways. These selfish qualities, not the love for their mother, cause the Bundren children to succeed in their mother's dying wish.
The third person point of view also reaffirms Capote's neutrality. In addition, this viewpoint adds credibility to the piece of literature because there are few, if any, dissenting opinions of
Epictetus said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” William Faulkner explored this idea, among others, in his novel, As I Lay Dying, which follows the Bundren family on their trek to Jefferson. Michael Arndt’s screenplay, Little Miss Sunshine, explores similar themes and follows the Hoover family on their road trip to California. In both cases, everything during the journey goes wrong which tests the relationships of the family members.
Individuals are not born with the conception of vicious intentions. They are simply taught that the concept of betrayal is acceptable throughout the course of their lifetime. Many novels, movies, and tv shows focus on the concept of betrayal because it adds depth and drama to the plot. William Faulkner manipulates this idea in his fictional novel As I Lay Dying by using different perspectives of characters to display acts of betrayal and the outcomes that they develop. Dewey Dell, the daughter of Anse and Addie Bundren, double crosses multiple people throughout the novel, including her own father and brothers Darl and Vardaman. Over the duration of the novel, characters tend to utilize betrayal to promote oneself
Despite the fact that human beings are oftentimes reluctant to admit it, it is a fact of life that one of the most fundamental aspects of human nature is self-interest. Selfishness pervades everyday life, no matter what efforts are made to deny and rationalize its existence. In the novel As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, the unique method handling the death of Addie that each character uses exemplifies the inherent selfishness apparent in human nature and outlines the various emotions that accompany the death of a loved one.
Money determines how happy he is. Mama is getting tired of his complaining so she decided to trust him with the large sum of money. This money makes him happy and friendly. It causes him to become the perfect family man. When he receives the insurance money he is ecstatic, but when he loses the money to Willy Harris he lets his self-loathing side come out. Walter knows that he screwed up and he really does not know how he will face the consequences.
Just finished “As I lay Dying”. I had a love hate relationship with this novel. As the Bundern’s family traveled farther in their journey, the events became difficult for me to read. The family could not catch a break and Faulkner never really made it clear they deserved to.
In the novel, As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, two characters ,Darl and Jewel Bundren, each cope with their mother’s death and deal with their isolation from their family by expressing their feelings in deeply emotional behavior. Darl, the second eldest sibling out of five, questions his existence because of his isolation and the lack of love he received from his mother growing up. Jewel, on the other hand, was his mother’s favorite of all five of her children. Jewel was the bastard son of Addie Bundren and the minister she had an affair with, Whitfeld. Due to the violent situation by which he was conceived, Jewel expresses all of his actions, including love, through violence and hatred. Both Darl and Jewel Bundren, convey their
William Faulkner uses language in a unique way in his novel As I Lay Dying. Language is a form of expression to show thoughts and emotions. Faulkner uses it to convey the individual characters’ thoughts and feelings. He also uses it to draw a line between language and true expression. He shows the limitations of language and the difference between language and words.
The author of As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner, really contributes to the aspects of literature through his ability to tell a seemingly incredible story through only the “stream-of-consciousness” technique. Faulkner takes his insight beyond the piece, through other’s views and thoughts. Although the characters might be acting differently upon each subject or handling each action in opposite ways, the tone and theme that he uses really brings the whole piece to a perfect balance. In As I Lay Dying, Faulkner displays contradicting elements through the reactions of the family members towards the mother’s death with the use of dialogue, tone, imagery, and internal conflict.
In As I Lay Dying, an important question the reader grapples with is simply why? Why all of these unnecessary hardships just to get to Jefferson? Is the Bundrens’ journey to Jefferson driven by familial duty, or familial love? It’s really driven by neither. Familial duty is the guise in this novel for each family member to get to town—namely, Anse—for some sort of ulterior motive. Anse is the driving force for the other members of the family to find a reason to go to Jefferson. The only person in the Bundren family to convey actual familial love is Darl, who tries to burn his mother’s body—which, we are reminded—makes him insane. Yes, they get to Jefferson and bury Addie’s body, but was she even really a person anymore, or