William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying

Emily Dickinson wrote, “Much madness is divinest Sense/ To a discerning eye-“. Authors continually utilize the concept of madness or mental delusion as a tool to show how a certain character’s ideas and thought differ from the normalcy of society. In William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Darl Bundren’s family mischaracterized his “eccentric behavior” as madness. In reality, Darl’s ability to perceive and comprehend surrounding situations at a much higher level than his family and friends lead him both to realize that the family’s journey to transport Addie’s coffin to Jefferson was fruitless and debilitating as well as determined that his family’s chaotic disorder was breaking them apart and their relationship was in dire need of mending. Darl’s

Even from the beginning of the novel, Darl’s ability to comprehend the people around him is truly remarkable. While discussing Addie’s, their mother, inevitable fate, Darl states that “The reason you will not say it is, when you say it, even to yourself, you will know it is true: is that it?” (40). Although the rest of the family then condemns him for speaking so cruelly, they all still know that he is unfortunately correct about Addie. After Darl sets fire to the barn that contained Addie’s coffin, his family decided to report his actions and send him off to a mental institution. However, the family’s decision was only made due to the fact that they did not

On several accounts throughout the novel, Darl is able to perceive what truly should be imperceptible. Darl seems to know about Dewey Dell’s unrighteous pregnancy as well as the fact that Jewel is not Anse’s son. However, his attempts to address such issues ultimately end with his family not understanding his desire to help them but rather that he is crazy in his beliefs. During once instance while Darl is aiding Cash’s broken leg, he explains attempts to reveal to Jewel the fact that Jewel has a different father than the rest of the Bundren people. However, Jewel can only answer back by saying “You goddamn lying son of a bitch” (213) and fails to see Darl’s worry. His family’s continual lack of proper response towards Darl’s attempts at compassion angers Darl. Hence Jewel’s failure to properly discuss the issue with Darl only leads Darl to think, “Jewel, I say, Who was your father Jewel? Goddamn you. Goddamn you” (213). Darl constantly is angered with the fact that no one is able to recognize his care and concern and treat him as if he is delusion. For these reasons, the Bundren’s perspective of Darl’s mental delusion or eccentric is the result of their inability to understand Darl’s compassion towards them and his desire to puzzle together the broken pieces