As I Lay Dying Theme

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“As I Lay Dying” has to be one of the interesting stories I’ve read so far. This story is unique from lots of stories I’ve read because instead of telling the story in the form of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd point of view, this story gives the points of views from almost all the characters. There are many characters in the book, and you can’t tell what their connections are to each other at first, but after reading the story a bit more, you can tell what they are to each other. I believe the story has two main themes. The first theme being, how everyone is getting ready or Addie’s death. In the beginning of the story, Darl and Jewel, whom I believe are siblings, are walking across a field when they happen to spot Tull’s wagon. In the wagon, there is a gourd, and without hesitation Jewel takes the gourd and drinks from it. Darl walks pass Jewel only to see Cash adding the parts of a coffin together. Addie, their mother, is sick and about to die, when …show more content…

Addie has a death wish, and that wish was to be buried in Jefferson. So after Anse finally agreed, they set off to Jefferson to bury Addie. Cash, however broke his leg while working on the coffin, but doesn’t hesitate to help carry the coffin with them. “It aint balanced right for no long ride,” Cash says, so Jewel helped carry the coffin, almost all by himself as he put it in the wagon for them to begin carrying. (pg. 35) In the end, the author Addie is finally buried in Jefferson, Darl is sent to a mental institute and the family finally is making a route to go back home. But Anse, tells the kids to wait for him before they go back home. The kids are eating bananas when Anse comes back from around the corner. He has a new set of teeth and begins by saying, "It's Cash and Jewel and Vardaman and Dewey Dell," pa says, kind of hangdog and proud too, with his teeth and all, even if he wouldn't look at us. "Meet Mrs Bundren," he

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