Allusions And Death In William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, chronicles a family facing a series of trials in the wake of a traumatic event, Addie’s death. Faulkner first suggests that the journey to bury Addie, a wife and mother, is a way for her family to show her their final respect, yet each character’s real motivation in participating begins to emerge as the novel progresses. The motivations and circumstances present as an over-the-top dramatic tale, something that often times only appears on reality television. Through the use of Biblical allusions and religious contradictions, Faulkner presents a sarcastic tone mocking the backwardness of the journey and the Bundren family’s ethics. Faulkner chooses to use these stylistic devices to expose the impact of religious

Even as he passes judgment on Addie, Reverend Whitfield cowardly does not personally confess his sin to Anse and hopes that the sin will die and be forgiven with Addie’s suffering. Reverend Whitfield declares, “[God] will accept the will for the deed, who knew that when I framed the words of my confession it was to Anse I spoke them, even though he was not there,” (Faulkner, 179). On “The Murphy Grant Show,” Reverend Whitfield can be seen giving Anse advice on how to live his life in a less sinful way. This is important because Reverend Whitfield believes he is a true man of God who holds powers. Reverend Whitfield’s actions and dialogue toward Anse and the host of the show also portray him as idiotic, similar to his portrayal in the novel. Faulkner’s sarcastic tone can be supported by in Benjamin Widiss’ “Fit and Surfeit in ‘As I Lay Dying,’” as he believes the novel has a “biting, comic side,” (Widiss, 104). An example of this can be examined in the play on words when Reverend Whitfield claims that God told him to “repair to that home in which you have put a living lie…” as Addie lies in her bed alive waiting to die (Faulkner, 177). According to North, it is apparent that Reverend Whitfield is a character who is not meant to be taken

He shows no meaningful emotion about his mother’s death or the fact that she compared him to such a high being. Jewel’s segment is quick and does not provide the audience with too much insight or lie detector analysis. This correctly portrays Jewel’s mysterious sense because Faulkner also chooses to have most of Jewel’s character development narrated through another character’s point of view. The sense of mystery surrounds Jewel because it is left for the reader to determine if he is a Christ figure like Addie as claims “he is my cross and he will be my salvation. He will save me from the water and from the fire. Even though I have laid down my life, he will save me,” (Faulkner, 168). Ironically, in death, Jewel is Addie’s savior in both the ways she predicted. When the family is crossing the river after the flood, Jewel helps retrieve the coffin from the water. When Darl sets the barn on fire, Jewel runs in to the fire to save the coffin. Addie’s greatest sin ends up being her savior after she has laid down her life. However, parallel to this, North claims that Faulkner intends for Jewel to be an inverted Christ figure, he believes “instead of a divine birth, Jewel is born illegitimate. He is also, ironically, born of a “holy” father. He is by far the angriest character in the book, and his