Modernist as I Lay Dying

¶ … Modernist

As I lay Dying

As I lay Dying by William Faulkner should be understood and analyzed in the context of the modernist literary and philosophical movement. This movement in thought and art began in the early Twentieth Century and it is characterized by the central theme of the search for meaning and the understanding of existence in a modern world that seems devoid of meaning. The philosophy of existentialism became popular during this period. Existentialism is in essence concerned the search for inner meaning and significance in the world. It suggests questions such as; what are we; what is the meaning of everyday existence and experience; is there is a larger meaning to life than the emptiness of daily repetition? Although these are questions that have also been raised in other philosophies, they achieved a certain modern significance in their relation to the early and middle Twentieth Century.

The early Twentieth Century was a time in which many artists and thinkers questioned and interrogated the status quo and the norms and conventions of society. Many factors precipitated this intense quest for new answers in the face of the dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs in the world. One of these factors was the First World War, which had led to the meaningless slaughter of almost an entire generation of young men. Another factor was the new discoveries that were being made in the sciences and particularly in psychology. The discovery of the subconscious levels of human motivation by Freud had a dramatic effect on the way that people in general perceived reality and also had a profound effect on thinker and artists. In this process, the view of a static objective reality was being questioned.

It is against this background that we should see the world that Faulkner created in as I Lay Dying. This is one of his most significant works and explores the central theme of the search for meaning in the contemporary world.

In essence, the book deals with a journey in both a metaphorical and psychological sense. The central overarching theme of the novel is an exploration and a search for human dignity in the modern "fallen" world. The novel is ostensibly about the burial of the dead and this narrative is used to explore both the nature of the modern world and the meaning of individual existence.

The world which Faulkner describes in the novel is one that seems essentially empty or devoid of any real meaning. As one critic notes, "Faulkner's characters inhabit a world that Georg Lukacs describes as 'abandoned by God.' "

Allen 427). The central motif in the novel is the journey to bury the mother, Addie Bundren. However, this physical journey undertaken by the family is a metaphor for the existential and personal journey that each character takes in search of his or her identity. On another level, the novel deals with the search for meaning in the modern world. This reflects the central modernist search for meaning that obsessed many writers and artists during this period.

The various thematic strands are explored through the characters and their subjective feelings and thoughts. In order to convey these thoughts and feelings, the author used a literary technique known as "stream of consciousness." This means that instead of following conventional and logical narrative style, the characters are allowed to verbalize their thoughts and feelings seemingly at random at without a clear legible sequence.

Related to the central theme is the important motif of death and dying. This theme is used throughout the novel and refers to the mental and moral degeneration of many of the characters. As Swiggart (1962) states, "Common themes of death and mental disintegration are emphasized and linked with characterization..."

Swiggart 109).

Another important aspect is that the novel focuses on the subjective views of the characters, rather than on objective realities. This implies that the author is in fact suggesting that there is no such thing as an objectify reality and that all reality is a subjective interpretation that varies from person to person in the book.

The character of Darl is particularly important in terms of this analysis of the novel. While this character is the main narrator, he is also described as being " different" ands even insane. This has tended to support the view that there is no reliable or definitive insight into the truth from any single individual.

As the characters reveal themselves through their innermost thoughts, it becomes clear that 'reality" and "truth" are not fixed and objective but that reality is in effect a result of individual and subjective views and impressions. For Faulkner, meaning and the reality of each person is "mutable." In this regard, the novel deals with the themes of identity and existence and the intentions and motivations behind each individual's reasons for undertaking the journey to bury Addie from many different points-of-view.

The images of death and dying tend to add to this search for meaning and identity; for example, Addie's slowly decaying corpse. The death of the mother motivates the family to begin the journey to not only bury her but also as a personal search for meaning. The theme of death also tends to stress that view that we are all in the process of dying and this emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and significance in life.

The novel uses symbols and image to convey its deeper intentions with regard to life, death and identity. We see this aspect in Vardaman's attempt to understand his mother's death. From his subjective point-of-view, he cannot understand her death rationally and sees her as a "Fish" which he has eaten. The image of the Fish is also a symbol that has connotations of resurrection and rebirth.

One insightful view of the novel is to see it as a story with mock-heroic overtones. From this perspective, the 'heroic journey" in search of truth is undermined and mocked by the emptiness and selfish intentions of the characters. This view that is suggested by Swiggart (1962). Swiggart states that the novel has the outward appearance of a heroic journey to bury the mother. Certainly, some heroic characteristics are revealed in the characters as they face dangers like floods and fires. But these heroic factors are mocked by the family's selfishness.

In portraying the sacrifices and ordeals of an entire family carrying out the wishes of the dead mother, Faulkner creates the paraphernalia of a folk epic. But Faulkner undermines the heroic atmosphere by revealing hidden personal motives and by depriving the trip of any intrinsic value beyond the fulfillment of the immediate group aim. The supposed idealism which underlies the trip, the devotion to Addie Bundren's memory, is transformed into a joke played upon the reader -- or upon the Bundrens.