Faulkner

The Addie Effect

In William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying the main characters consists of a poor southern family who have to endure the loss of their mother, Addie Bundren. The physiological challenges, which go along with her passing, prove to be vast amongst her husband Anse Bundren, and her five children, Cash, Darl, Jewel, Dewey Dell, and Vardaman. Each person is affected by Addie’s passing in a different way, from complete emotional breakdown, to some showing no signs of affection toward her death. Faulkner eventually unravels how selfish some of the family members are and how far some members of the family are willing to go to help complete the final request of their mother.

As Addie Bundren is laying on her death bed her husband Anse Bundren is much more concerned with other matters such as what is going on around the farm and if he is going to make any profit within the week. Taking advantage of his neighbor’s Christian duty to take care of his sickly wife, Anse’s concerns are with money and the farm and he truly believes there is no wrongdoing. While using the opportunity of his neighbors help at the house, Anse has Darl and Jewel make a delivery to town during which Addie passes away.

After Addie’s death Anse has to fulfill his promise he made to Addie to bury her in her hometown of Jefferson. This was done not just for fulfill her dying wish, but also out of his desire to buy a set of false in Jefferson and eventually find a new wife. Before the death of Addie, Anse seemed much more focused on his wellbeing and what was to become of his income. After Addie died Anse still focused mainly on his own issues but tried to act as if he were only doing them for the benefit of his family or the sanctity of his wife’s burial wishes.

Dewey Dell was the least affected by her mother’s death next to her father. This was mainly due her being secretly pregnant during the time of Addie taking ill. From the time Addie was introduced as being ill Dewey Dell...