What is the summary of the book As I Lay Dying written by William Faulkner? Information about the summary, characters and analysis of As I Lay Dying.
As I Lay Dying
“As I Lay Dying” is a novel by William Faulkner, first published in 1930. The novel is set in the fictional rural town of Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, and tells the story of the Bundren family as they make a journey to bury their matriarch, Addie Bundren. The novel is narrated by fifteen different characters in fifty-nine chapters, each providing their own perspective on the family’s journey.
The novel’s themes include death, family, and the decay of the rural South. Death is a pervasive theme throughout the novel, as Addie’s death is the catalyst for the family’s journey. However, the novel also explores the various ways in which the characters react to and understand death. Some, like Addie’s husband Anse, view death as an inevitability that must be accepted, while others, like her son Darl, see it as a deeply personal and meaningful event.
Family is another important theme in the novel. The Bundren family is dysfunctional and fractured, with each member having their own secrets and desires. The novel explores the complexity of family relationships and the various ways in which family members interact with and affect each other. The novel suggests that family is not always a source of comfort or support, but can also be a source of conflict and pain.
The novel also explores the decay of the rural South. Set during the early 20th century, the novel portrays a region that is changing and losing touch with its traditional values and way of life. The Bundren family’s journey takes them through various towns and rural areas, each with its own unique characteristics and problems. The novel suggests that the rural South is a place of poverty, ignorance, and decay, and that the characters are struggling to adapt to a changing world.
Faulkner’s use of multiple narrators and stream-of-consciousness narration is also a defining feature of the novel. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, providing a unique perspective on the events of the novel. The use of stream-of-consciousness narration allows Faulkner to delve deeply into the inner thoughts and emotions of his characters, providing a complex and nuanced portrayal of their lives.
Overall, “As I Lay Dying” is a complex and challenging novel that explores the themes of death, family, and the decay of the rural South. Faulkner’s use of multiple narrators and stream-of-consciousness narration adds to the novel’s complexity, and has made it a beloved and influential work of American literature.
Book Summary
“As I Lay Dying” is a novel by William Faulkner that tells the story of the Bundren family as they make a journey to bury their matriarch, Addie Bundren. The novel is set in the fictional rural town of Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, during the early 20th century. The novel is narrated by fifteen different characters in fifty-nine chapters, each providing their own perspective on the family’s journey.
The novel begins with Addie Bundren on her deathbed, reflecting on her life and her relationships with her family members. She feels unloved by her husband Anse and is haunted by the memories of her affair with Whitfield, the local minister. She requests that she be buried in Jefferson, a town she has never visited but which holds a special significance for her. After Addie’s death, the family sets out on their journey to Jefferson, carrying her body in a homemade coffin.
The family is dysfunctional and fractured, with each member having their own secrets and desires. Anse, the patriarch, is a lazy and selfish man who is more concerned with obtaining a set of false teeth than with the welfare of his family. Darl, the second oldest son, is intelligent and introspective, but his erratic behavior and perceived insanity cause friction within the family. Jewel, the illegitimate son of Addie and Whitfield, is fiercely independent and often at odds with the rest of the family. Cash, the eldest son, is a skilled carpenter who built the coffin for Addie. Vardaman, the youngest son, is preoccupied with the idea that his mother is now a fish, due to a traumatic experience he had while fishing.
As the family makes their journey to Jefferson, they encounter various obstacles and setbacks. They have to cross a river, which results in the coffin getting wet and the mules being injured. They also face criticism and ridicule from the people they encounter on their journey, who view the family as being backward and ignorant. The journey takes a toll on the family, both physically and emotionally, and tensions between the family members begin to rise.
The novel explores the complexity of family relationships and the various ways in which family members interact with and affect each other. Anse’s selfishness and laziness cause frustration and resentment among the other family members, while Darl’s erratic behavior and perceived insanity cause fear and anxiety. The novel suggests that family is not always a source of comfort or support, but can also be a source of conflict and pain.
Death is a pervasive theme throughout the novel, as Addie’s death is the catalyst for the family’s journey. However, the novel also explores the various ways in which the characters react to and understand death. Some, like Anse, view death as an inevitability that must be accepted, while others, like Darl, see it as a deeply personal and meaningful event.
Faulkner’s use of multiple narrators and stream-of-consciousness narration is also a defining feature of the novel. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, providing a unique perspective on the events of the novel. The use of stream-of-consciousness narration allows Faulkner to delve deeply into the inner thoughts and emotions of his characters, providing a complex and nuanced portrayal of their lives.
Overall, “As I Lay Dying” is a complex and challenging novel that explores the themes of death, family, and the decay of the rural South. Faulkner’s use of multiple narrators and stream-of-consciousness narration adds to the novel’s complexity, and has made it a beloved and influential work of American literature.
Characters
- Addie Bundren: The matriarch of the Bundren family who dies at the beginning of the novel. She is dissatisfied with her life and feels unloved by her husband Anse.
- Anse Bundren: The lazy and selfish patriarch of the family. He is more concerned with obtaining a set of false teeth than with the welfare of his family.
- Darl Bundren: The second oldest son who is intelligent and introspective, but his erratic behavior and perceived insanity cause friction within the family.
- Jewel Bundren: The illegitimate son of Addie and Whitfield. He is fiercely independent and often at odds with the rest of the family.
- Cash Bundren: The eldest son who is a skilled carpenter and built the coffin for Addie.
- Vardaman Bundren: The youngest son who is preoccupied with the idea that his mother is now a fish, due to a traumatic experience he had while fishing.
- Dewey Dell Bundren: The only daughter who is pregnant and seeks an abortion in Jefferson.
- Tull: A neighbor and friend of the Bundren family who helps them along their journey.
- Cora Tull: Tull’s wife who is religious and judgmental.
- Vernon Tull: Tull’s son who has a romantic interest in Dewey Dell.
- Reverend Whitfield: The local minister who had an affair with Addie.
- Peabody: The Bundren family doctor who makes an appearance at the beginning of the novel.
