AP Literature paper about As I Lay Dying - Essay Example

AS I LAY DYING This is an additional chapter to the novel ‘As I lay Dying’, whereby it is written as the introductoryone. In this introduction, Addie gives ideas on the causes of her death by explaining the difficulties she experienced. As I lay in my bed, I watched as my children worked to ensure they had something on the table. Despite their age, they had me in their care and did it to the best of their ability. Although all of them seemed struck by my sickness, I noticed that my eldest son was more affected than the others were.

Whenever we talked, one could notice his eyes wetting. This did not hinder me from telling him the truth about my feelings. I felt my life was ending, and decided to have my son work on my coffin. At first, I did not know how I would request him. I ended up telling him that I would appreciate if I was buried in a coffin that my son had made. I also told him that his father had the city I wanted to be buried in his memory. This caused him to break out in tears, but I could not assist him. As he walked out, I could not help but remember the days I was as energetic as he was.

It was in the beginning of the twentieth century when I stepped foot into Yoknapatawpha. This was one of the many counties in Mississippi. I had neither relatives nor friends in this place, but I decided to create myself a family and make friends. I joined a group of young women who went round the county performing different tasks. We worked all day but spent our night in a small room that belonged to middle-aged young man, Anse Bundren (Faulkner 23). At first, I did not understand the reason he kept following our progress in the jobs we did.

I later came to realize that he was the proprietor and required us to work hard to pay him rent. We always had our rent in time, but it happened that one time our bosses delayed our pay. This brought a lot of controversy between the property owner and my friends. Although I did not have a family, I knew the power of talking through a matter. After talking and exchange of bitter words between the two parties, I decided to try my luck out. I waited until he had his spirit in a normal one and approached him.

This night changed every thing between us. According to him, he believes that the courage I portrayed and the words I used to convince him made him realize the quality of a woman I was. This made him decide on trying to have an affair with me. At first, I was reluctant but as days became months, and month’s years, I got used to him and eventually had him as my husband.During my first days in Mississippi, I had wished to make a family in this place, and my dream had been achieved. After delivering my first child, Cash, my husband’s plots were demolished.

This was rumored to be a move by the government to acquire people’s land for public functions. This was the start of our suffering; I started small jobs as my husband resulted to carpentry. We managed to cope with the tough situations and still increased my family. Cash grew to be in favor of his father’s job, where he later replaced him with the carpentry work (Dainton 121). In fact, he became a better carpenter where he served the community by making for them furniture, even to the extent of making coffins.

Cash being the first-born, he spent a lot of his time with his father. Due to this, he was taught a lot about carpentry, hence his ability to make my coffin. He always wanted to thrill me with his carpentry skills. For this reason, I requested him to make me a coffin.Due to the increase of the family members, my husband could not support us all. I was led by circumstances to find a job to help him in the family upkeep. We struggled with the hardships in life until I started having complications with my entire body.

By this time, I had a large family of seven, five of them being children (Faulkner 121). The children were growing in a fast manner and they were exceedingly supportive. Out of all of them, only one of them was a girl. For this reason, it took me quite some time to back out the hustles I was used to doing. This was because I was the family’s breadwinner.The entire family worked to ensure that my health improved. For a number of weeks, I did not indulge in any job activities. I only assisted my daughter in various chores in the house and other basic jobs.

I thought I was helping my body, but it led to being bedridden. Work citedFaulkner, William. As I lay dying. Vintage Books: London, 1990. Print.