Analysis of The Novel As I Lay Dying Written by William Faulkner - Book Report/Review Example

13 November As I Lay Dying The novel, As I Lay Dying, written by William Faulkner and published in 1930, is known as one of the finest works in modern literature. One of the most unique features of this book is that the story is unraveled through the narrative perspective of 15 characters. The way Faulkner develops his characters, through 59 chapters, and each character through his or her perspectives revealing something about the others, shows his adeptness in the use of literary devices to narrate the story. Generally, writers apply various strategies such as symbolism, imagery, metaphors and similes etc in their works for the purpose of unfolding their story, without having to narrate it in a straightforward manner. Thus, they attain subtlety, which creates the real impact on the story. In this story, Faulkner adeptly deploys different objects to facilitate an understanding in his audience about the identities of his characters, even before they encounter them, which works well as the premise for the readers to appreciate the underlying themes. Faulkner’s dexterity in deploying objects to illustrate the traits of his characters comes to fore right at the outset of the story when Darl describes the way Tull’s wagon is “hitched to the rail” as he and Jewel pass the spring (Faulkner 2). In the 1920s, poverty characterizes the American society and thus, the wagon represents wealth and well being, which suggests Tull’s belonging to the upper echelons. The way, the wagon is secured to the rail and the manner in which reins are wrapped “about the seat stanchion” indicates the meticulous care Tull invests on his belongings and the orderly fashion in which he keep them and the readers get the idea that he is a very organized person (2). Thus, before the readers encounter this character, they get a vivid picture of some of his trait through Darl’s observation. Later, when Tull helps Jewel rescue the Addie Bundren’s coffin from the flooding river, the readers can associate his traits allowing such good gestures as he is a person who cares. In the same vein, Darl’s observation of the minute details of the wagon suggests that it is something important for him to demand his attention. Perhaps, a man of a higher social class may not have studied every detail in so much depth. Thus, the author also intends the wagon to allude to the fact that Darl hails from a poor background. Similarly, the way Jewel drinks the water from the gourd also indicates his belonging to the less fortunate category. As Darl moves ahead on the path, he speaks about hearing Cash’s saw, and when the latter notices him, he stops his work. Darl notes that Cash is standing in “a litter of chips,” fitting together two boards (2). The chips, littered around his feet, subtly but eloquently convey that Cash has been working for a long while and that he has a specific purpose, to which he is dedicated. Faulkner further deploys the excellent imagery of the golden yellow flanks of the boards that bear “in smooth undulations the marks of the adze blade,” to emphasize Cash’s adeptness as a craftsman. Thus, by using the chips and the wooden board, the author paints a vivid picture of Cash so that the readers can understand his characteristic traits. Again, Faulkner illustrates Cash’s adroitness in his craft through the saw and the wood on which he is working by referring to the noises the adze blade makes. “Chuck. Chuck. Chuck” refers to a rhythmic, unbridled flow, which suggests that the saw is cutting thorough the wood systematically, the person who cuts the wood needs to know both the wood and the saw and how to run the blade across. Additionally, he also must know at which point to exert pressure and at which point to release pressure, when to push and when to pull. Besides, Darl observes how Cash “holds the two planks on the trestle” and again refers to the “edges of the finished box” (2). All throughout, it becomes relevant that the author does not make Darl dwell on the aesthetic beauty of the box or any of its specific appeal, using ornamental language. He merely alludes to the objects that Cash uses and the specific ways in which he does the job. Even when describing Cash’s action of kneeling and squinting to measure the fitting of the panels, the focus is on their edges and not on the concept of how well they fitted. Thus, Faulkner lays emphasis on the objects to illustrate Cash’s characteristic of a great craftsman. Similarly, even before the readers get to know Darl’s mother, they come to realize that she is dead as the author presents the wooden box and the devoted, meticulous manner in which Cash works on it. Darl contemplates that his mother could not hope to get a better box and that it would afford her “confident and comfort” (2). Through this pondering of Darl, the author shows that Cash is very devoted to his mother and it points to the way he cares for her. On the other hand, Darl also finds contentment that his mother has received the best box to rest in. Faulkner, instead of using any other literary device, deploys an object to illustrate the love and care that two sons from a poor family have for their mother. Thus, throughout the opening scenes of his novel, As I Lay Dead, William Faulkner, uses different objects to portray the traits of different characters. It can only be seen that he achieves the goal of guiding his audience in understanding the underlying themes of the novel through objects as significant as the peeled off chips and the glazing flanks of wooden panel to allude to the attributes of his characters. The effect of this treatment renders the novel a very unique and interesting identity, while it enables the readers to understand the characters in the story as well as to perceive their perspectives quite well. Works Cited Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. (Publisher, Location. Year). Read More