Point Of View In Faulkner's As I Lay Dying

In Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying (1930), the chapter that Addie narrates from beyond the grave serves as a turning point in that the chapter because it extrapolates on the ideas of mortality and eternity, while also causing the reader to question what it means to be a narrator, to have a point of view, and to be limited by one’s perceptions.
By narrating a chapter through Addie’s point of view after her death, Faulkner communicates that reality is fluid and depends on an individual’s perspective. For instance, because Addie is speaking from beyond the grave, her existence is practically nugatory. Addie’s narration emphasizes the idea of eternity and the idea that reality exists when the individual is aware. Vardaman has his own take on this

conundrum, and when Addie dies, he proves unable to understand the idea that she has mentally passed, and continues to exist in another location. This is the reason for the famous statement: “My mother is a fish” (84). Faulkner uses this symbol to represent Vardaman’s coping mechanism, as he is only able to understand mortality and the idea of existence by looking at the concrete example of a fish, once alive, that he caught and cut up to be cooked for dinner. Addie’s chapter also explores this idea of death, though she takes on her father’s view that death is a salvation from life’s suffering: “I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time” (169). In this particular case, Addie views death as a reward for her life, reaffirming the idea of the eternity of death. Faulkner’s use of monologues helps the reader to better understand each of the family members, allowing him to create these round characters that appear realistic. Addie’s monologue grants a greater exposition and leads the reader to the theme of mortality, and the fact that Addie embraces death because it brings an everlasting end to her suffering.
Addie’s narration also leads to greater incongruities between the characters and shows how facts and easily become distorted because of one’s perspective.

For instance, the way the chapter was placed in the novel is a technique that Faulkner utilizes to draw attention to the differences in the characters’ perception. By placing Cora’s chapter first, it is revealed that Cora believes Addie to be sinful, as she appears to have replaced God with her child, Jewel. However, in Addie’s perspective, Addie’s backstory prevents the reader from making the same disproving judgments. Addie is revealed to have felt lost in a world that limits her sex, and she can only find comfort and independence through Jewel. Ultimately, it is revealed that words themselves are inherently useless. By creating this chapter in this dead woman’s perspective, it leaves the reader questioning the concept of narration. After all, these differences in perspectives by the different characters indicates that the descriptions themselves aren’t accurate, but are instead subjective and interpretive. Addie comments on this in her chapter, saying, “...because people to whom sin is just a matter words, to them salvation is just words too” (176). Here, Addie comments on the meaninglessness of words but also relates this to one of Faulkner’s major themes in the novel: religion. Faulkner uses the theme of religion in Addie’s chapter to further mock Addie’s quest - a journey without glory and silent confessions without redemption. From Addie’s chapter, the reader is able to recognize that Cora’s religious attitude is almost ironic in the fact that Addie committed adultery with the town’s minister, Whitfield. Without these different perspectives, the reader wouldn’t be seeing the entire picture, and Addie’s chapter highlights this

fact.
Writing a chapter in Addie’s perspective allows the reader to recognize the theme of mortality that is not just a visceral, but also a spiritual experience that leads away from suffering. Additionally, Addie’s chapter recognizes the distrustful narration that exists within the writing.