As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner - Essay Example

Faulkner’s instead of his characters disdain or criticism for Southerners was evident in his character Addie. Traditionally, wives in the Southern states during Faulkner’s time were supposed to be subjugated to the husband and are supposed to be buried where the family is. But no, the whole novel revolved around the universe of travelling to Jefferson despite the bridge that was obliterated and the menacing river they have to go through that Cash, her son, even broke his leg.

To confound Faulkner’s critique, Addie’s body was already decaying and yet, they still have to go to Jefferson for her to be buried there. The flies that were following her rotting body symbolism how desperate Addie was to be away from the South and the travel was so long and tenuous that Vardaman, her mentally retarded son burned the barn where the coffin was situated during their rest to end their ordeal but still, they have to go to Jefferson. When Addie was finally buried, the novel justified why she wanted to return to Jefferson and not remain in the Bundren’s land as illustrated by the allegory of her husband Ansen getting new teeth and a wife just after she was buried.