How Does William Faulkner Use Multiple-Narrative in As I Lay Dying?

As I Lay Dying, written by William Faulkner, is the story of the Bundren family's venture away from their small farm to a town forty miles away. Many characters tell this story - there are fifteen narrators throughout fifty-nine sections of the book. By using a multiple-voice narrative, Faulkner removes himself from the story. The characters relay the story as they perceive it. The use of multiple perspectives shows the personality of the characters and reveals events from different angles. By structuring the novel in this way, Faulkner effectively illustrates the aspirations and motives of the Bundren family.

At the beginning of the novel, the Bundren family lives on a farm in Mississippi. The family is very poor and Addie Bundren, the mother of five children, is close to death. Cash, her eldest son, is a carpenter who wishes to make a coffin for her. Darl and Jewel, Addie's second and third children, leave upon their father, Anse's, request. Because they are poverty-stricken, Anse sends them away to make three dollars (Faulkner 27). Their mother dies before they return. Unexpectedly, Darl narrates Addie's death, despite him not being present when she dies (Faulkner 49).

After Addie's death, Cash finishes the coffin and the family holds her funeral. Addie's final request is that they bury her body in Jefferson. Anse obliges because he wants to buy a new set of fake teeth (Faulkner 82). The family prepares to embark on this journey. Cash breaks his leg, so Jewel is the one who lifts the coffin into the wagon. He will not join his family in the wagon, however, and defiantly follows behind them on a horse (Faulkner 101).

On the first night of their journey, a storm hits. This destroys the bridge leading over the river. The family a...

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...ing realities. His narrative is subjective – what one character believes is true may not actually be the case. For example, Cora judges Addie’s piety, but, in actuality, she is oblivious (Faulkner 156). Multiple-voice narrative adds dimension to Faulkner’s characters because of how they perceive life. There are no definite facts in the book, only opinions. This allows the reader to make his or her own conclusions about what is truly reality.

As I Lay Dying should be included in works of high literary merit because of Faulkner’s unique stylistic choices. These choices allow the reader to scrutinize each character’s inner thoughts and motivations in ways other books do not. It also shows the story from multiple outlooks. This makes the novel a more intimate read.

Works Cited

Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. New Ed. New York: Random House, 19641957. Print.