As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner

Addie Bundren's declining health and eventual death prompt her impoverished family to honor her wish to be buried in Jefferson, Mississippi. In the beginning, Addie is alive but deteriorating, watching her son Cash construct her coffin while her husband Anse waits on the porch and daughter Dewey Dell fans her. Following Addie's death, a heavy rainstorm floods the rivers, destroying the bridges necessary to reach Jefferson. William Faulkner employs 15 different points of view throughout the novel, with each chapter narrated by a different character, including Addie, who shares her thoughts posthumously. The 59 chapters, each named after their narrator, gradually flesh out the characters through their perceptions, with Darl's perspective being particularly dominant. Narrative Structure The novel utilizes a unique experimental style: Multiple Perspectives: 15 different narrators share their perceptions across 59 chapters. Posthumous Voice: Addie herself narrates a chapter after her death. Dominant Voice: While the perspective shifts, the son Darl serves as the primary narrator, providing the most frequent insight into the family's psyche. The information from the following list comes from Wikipedia, with thanks: Addie Bundren: Wife of Anse and mother of Cash, Darl, Jewel, Dewey Dell, and Vardaman. Anse Bundren: Addie’s husband—later her widower—and father to all the children except Jewel. Cash Bundren: The eldest son (late 20s), a talented carpenter who constructs Addie’s coffin and shows a sometimes excessive heroism. Darl Bundren: Roughly two years younger than Cash, the most articulate family member, narrator of 19 chapters, and ultimately loses his sanity. Jewel Bundren: The third child, around 19, half‑brother to the others, Addie’s favored child, and the secret illegitimate son of Addie and Reverend Whitfield. Dewey Dell Bundren: The only daughter, age 17, the second youngest, impregnated by Lafe, and seeking an abortion. Vardaman Bundren: The youngest child, between 7 and 10 years old. Vernon Tull: A close friend of the Bundren family, a farmer, and less devout than his wife. Cora Tull: Vernon’s wife, deeply religious and often judgmental. Eula Tull: Daughter of Cora and Vernon. Kate Tull: The other daughter of Cora and Vernon. Peabody: The Bundrens’ doctor, offering an outsider’s view of the family. Lafe: The farmer who impregnates Dewey Dell and gives her $10 for an abortion. Reverend Whitfield: The local minister, Addie’s lover, and Jewel’s biological father. Samson: A local farmer who provides lodging for the Bundrens. Moseley: A pharmacist in Mottson who refuses Dewey Dell the abortion medication she seeks. Other narrators: MacGowan and Armstid. (Summary by John Greenman & Michele Fry)