Kristin Newton

Block 2
11/16/17
As I Lay Dying Essay Draft1

Secrets, Secrets, Secrets...

In the novel ​As I Lay Dying ​ William Faulkner uses many examples to distinguish

appearance versus reality. Each character portrays a view of themselves, but each has a secret

that gets revealed throughout the book on their journey to Jefferson.

Darl gives the impression he does not like his brother Jewel. He knows his mother

Addies secret about Jewel, “whose son are you?” (Faulkner 212), and that interferes with his

love for Jewel, yet at the end of the story he saves Jewel from townsmen as they try to pull him

to the ground off the wagon, but why? After disowning him and criticizing Jewels special bond

with his mother? Darl “is driven by his hatred of Jewel” (Brooks 9). Some may say it’s because

deep down Darl is still a family man, that he does the things he does out of love to try and keep

the family together. However on the other hand they may say he is not sane and that was to

keep his cover so they don’t send him away. Yet, in the end that's exactly what happens.

Next character is Dewey Dell, she is the only girl in a pool of boys. With that said she

has many tasks to keep herself occupied, but not including a man. Her secret is exposed when

they go to town. What seems to be a basket of Cora's cakes Dewey is bringing into town is

actually a basket of clothes she changes into. She makes the family pull over to go to the

bushes, yet when she comes back in her “sunday dress, her beads, her shoes and stockings”

(Faulkner 229) they realized there was more to her desire to go to town. Dewey Dell has a

secret, she's pregnant, and needs to go to town to abort the unborn child. When comes time she

had to pay for the medication in an inhuman way. Now she is left unsure if the so called doctors

medicine will work or not.

The biggest secret of all starts with Anse Bundren. What seems as a harmless trip to

bury Addie in the place of her wishes turns into a scheme planned by Anse to benefit him and
 Kristin Newton
Block 2
11/16/17
As I Lay Dying Essay Draft1

only him. He becomes manipulative now that he is in charge. Everyone along the way gets

affected one way or another, from loss of a horse to loss of a leg. But, Anse in his selfishness

gets his way, “​God's will be done . . . now I can get them teeth.” (Faulkner ), he says after

Addie's last breath, as if he could care less about the loss of his wife and just the fact he can

now get what he wants. However his biggest betrayal is revealed in the very last chapter. Right

after Addie's burial he introduces the kids to “Mrs. Bundren”. Anse knew this whole time that

once his wife passed he was going to Jefferson to marry his new wife. How can his family live

with such an ignorant man?

In conclusion, much can be said about this novel. But for most, I feel the secrets and

heartache that occur are the main source the story, whether it be physical or mental. Each

character had their own point of view which was expressed, which was a unique way to tell this

story. In doing so Faulkner was able to differentiate appearance versus reality with both the

story tellers words and their peers. Yet in the end everything was laid out on the line, the

Bundren family's new lives were about to begin.

 Kristin Newton
Block 2
11/16/17
As I Lay Dying Essay Draft1

Work Cited

Brooks, Cleanth. ​William Faulkner: the Yoknapatawpha Country​. Yale University Press,
1963.

Fargnoli, A. Nicholas., and Michael Golay. ​William Faulkner A to Z: the Essential Reference to His
Life and Work​. Facts on File,
2002.

Faulkner, William. ​As I Lay Dying: the Correct Text​. Vintage Books,
1957.

Gwynn, Frederick L., and Joseph Blotner. ​Faulkner in the University​. University Press of Virginia,
1995.