English 104 - Introduction to Narrative
09 Blog: As I Lay Dying
To Laughter and Contempt
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jim Light
In books and movies, insanity is frequently associated with irrepressible laughter. This comes at little surprise as laughter is fundamentally an outburst of emotion, often coupled with repressed feelings of shame, fear, and hatred. Darl’s case is no exception. After setting fire to the barn—a desperate effort, it seems, to...
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Posted by jlight on November 25, 2003 at 09:59 AM
Darl's Struggle
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Europa Yang
Darl’s last monologue reinforces his struggle with defining his feelings and expressing his own character, a problem that is exacerbated by his forced departure from the family. Previous chapters show that Darl is eerily good at describing other characters in the Bundren family. He can even observe their most minute...
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Posted by eyang on November 25, 2003 at 09:59 AM
Now we know
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Meredeth Lammert
Addie’s dialogue is placed, ironically, between Cora and Whitfield, the two people who focus continually on sin. This is important because of the relationship between Addie and Cora and Addie and Whitfield. Whitfield, being a minister and Cora, being very religious, have very strong ideas of sin and the judgment...
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Posted by mlammert on November 25, 2003 at 09:43 AM
Darl Looses His Sense of Self
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Molly McCarter
Darl’s earlier monologues have always been significant for their ability to “get into the heads” of other people. This ability, while helpful in terms of narration, hints at a deeper problem. In his final monologue, Darl is no longer able to see even himself in the first person – his...
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Posted by mmccarte on November 25, 2003 at 09:43 AM
Darl's Perspective
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Mike Stratton
Darl has the ability to narrate from the perspective of other characters. In his sections of the novel he describes situations threw a third persons perspective and not his own first person perspective. “‘It’s Jewel she wants,’ Dewey dells says. ‘why Addie,’ Pa says ‘him and Darl went to make...
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Posted by mstratto on November 25, 2003 at 09:38 AM
Ghost of Addie
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Aki Makino
The location of Addie’s monologue in the book follows the first incident, crash of the wagon (156-164), the Brunden family encountered. The placement on page 169 foreshadows more tragic events that may yet to come as well as give the reader the relationship between the characters. Cash’s broken leg...
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Posted by amakino on November 25, 2003 at 09:32 AM
Truth from beyond the grave
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Kendall Brown
The placement of Addie’s one and only monologue is important because it comes right after Cora gives the reader insight into the way that Addie really was as a mother. Instead of portraying fondly, as one usually would for someone who passed away, Cora gives the reader real information about...
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Posted by kbrown2 on November 25, 2003 at 09:05 AM
What doesn't meet the eye!!
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jannelle Richardson
Addie’s monologue expands the audience’s comprehension of Addie’s character in the novel. Addie is a mysterious character in the novel, the audience briefly sees her interacting with her family before she dies. Each family member has a different perspective of her; however, none grasps her true essence and truly understand...
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Posted by jrichar2 on November 25, 2003 at 08:26 AM
isnt it ironic?
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jin-Sun Kim
Addie's monologue reveals a lot about the novel. Faulkner carefully placed her chapter in between Cora and Whitfield, two characters who have interesting feelings about Addie. Cora, the hypocritical neighbor, shows how she disapproves of Addie's relationship with the preacher. Whitfield, the father of her bastard son, is the reason...
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Posted by jkim3 on November 25, 2003 at 05:27 AM
The Right Moment to Strike
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Dan Herzberg
By the time we get to Addie’s monologue on page 169 of As I Lay Dying, we have already heard from Addie’s friends and family, yet we have not heard Addie’s life story from her own perspective. Up until this climax when the reader finally is allowed inside Addie’s head,...
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Posted by dherzber on November 25, 2003 at 04:41 AM
Actions Vs. Words
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Chris Johnson
Placing Addie’s monologue in between those of Cora and Whitfield strengthens a message about Addie’s feelings on truth, and how it is and is not conveyed. Addie’s value of truth and honesty is seen not only in her monologue – “I hid nothing. I tried to deceive no one,” (p.175)...
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Posted by cjohnso2 on November 25, 2003 at 04:37 AM
The Central Theme to a Central Monologue
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Alex Smith
If it is Addie’s monologue that is the central perspective of the book, it is the words of her father that are the central idea to her monologue. “The reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time,” (169) he used to say. While she...
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Posted by asmith9 on November 25, 2003 at 03:45 AM
"Sin, Schmin"
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Julie Calareso
The placement of Addie’s one and only monologue between the monologues of the two most religious characters in the book is quite interesting. Cora, in her monologue, comes off to Addie and to the reader as very preachy, telling Addie that she must open her heart to the Lord and...
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Posted by jcalares on November 25, 2003 at 03:43 AM
May I please object!
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Dro Joseney
What is interesting about the placement of Addie’s monologue is that it comes right in between the monologues of Cora and Whitfield who are the two characters that are the most critical of her. Both of these characters are “religious” people who do not think too highly of Addie’s relationship...
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Posted by cjoseney on November 25, 2003 at 03:35 AM
Darl Observes Darl
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jeb Bobseine
Two passages, one in the beginning and the other in the end, open with Darl observing that a character has recently had a haircut. In the first, he observes, “[Jewel] has been to town this week: the back of his neck is trimmed close, with a white line between hair...
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Posted by jbobsein on November 25, 2003 at 03:14 AM
Understanding Sin
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Kelsey Hughes
Addie's monologue is in a peculiar but interesting place. It is positioned in between the monologues of the two characters that are said to be the most religious, when Addie appears in some ways to care the least about religion. The most intriguing part is that although Cora and Whitfield...
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Posted by khughes2 on November 25, 2003 at 03:09 AM
The Emergence of a Reliable Narrator?
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Nicole Colucci
The placement of Addie’s monologue between that of Cora and Whitfield’s is significant because it contrasts two insincere, superficially religious characters (Cora and Whitfield) with Addie, who is straightforward in her neglect for the importance of prayer as a result of disillusionment. Both Cora and Whitfield hypocritically stress the need...
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Posted by ncolucci on November 25, 2003 at 02:35 AM
The difficulties of defining Darl
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jennifer Bernstein
Darl‘s sadness over his mother’s death, and his confusion over his purpose and worth after her death has left him in a state of psychological instability. Darl has always been emotionally alienated from his family, spending more time wondering about his siblings, than physically interacting with them. But in his...
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Posted by jbernste on November 25, 2003 at 02:29 AM
Addie's One and Only
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Ryan Hurd
The chapters that precede Addie’s monologue deal with her coffin floating down the river and a desperate attempt by the family to save their mother. Cora discusses how Addie feels about Jewel, and her religious beliefs. According to Addie, Jewel is, “my cross and he will be my salvation. He...
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Posted by rhurd on November 25, 2003 at 01:51 AM
Addie's grand entrance and departure
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Monica Ruzicka
Though a somewhat surprising presence, Addie’s monologue appears at a rather crucial point in the narration. Previously we knew her character only through the dialogue and inner monologues of others, gaining a subjective view through piecing together details that never quite formed an informed perspective. Not only does the...
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Posted by mruzicka on November 25, 2003 at 01:26 AM
Prayer Is Not The Answer
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Matthew Roy
The fact that Addie’s monologue is preceded by the entry of Cora, one of the most pious, yet superficial people in the novel, makes her entry particularly interesting. In Cora’s monologue she criticizes Addie because “she had never been pure religious, not even after…Brother Whitfield wrestled with her spirit, singled...
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Posted by mroy on November 25, 2003 at 12:32 AM
words and religion
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Erica Michel
The placement of Addie’s only monologue in the novel between Cora and Whitfield is extremely significant. Throughout her monologue, Addie stresses her belief that “words are no good,” (171) and that there is no meaning behind them--even those pertaining to God and religion. It is interesting then, that Addie’s perspective...
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Posted by emichel on November 24, 2003 at 11:28 PM
sin and words
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Alex Krippner
The placement of Addie’s single monologue is significant in that it is inserted between the monologues of the two characters most involved with what she speaks of. In Addie’s speech we see the contrast of truth and sin, and there is a religious thread running throughout. We begin in the...
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Posted by kkrippne on November 24, 2003 at 11:22 PM
One Chance of Exposure
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Frank Chi
Addie’s monologue serves as the singular moment of expression she has to present her view on everyone else, whereas all other chapters focus events and emotions based on her life and death. When one might expect a more objective reflection from essential focus character upon the situation, Addie emphasizes her...
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Posted by fchi on November 24, 2003 at 11:20 PM
How Ironic
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Eric Davich
Throughout the story, Darl analyzes all the other characters besides himself. His final monologue is the first time that the reader experiences Darl looking at himself (even though he refers to himself in the third person). When the Bundren family first leaves home to go to Jefferson was the first...
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Posted by edavich on November 24, 2003 at 11:14 PM
Addie does not see dying as the end
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Emily Hubbard
It is both interesting and appropriate that Addie’s monologue follows the monologues’ of all the people that are in her life. Addie’s family is in disarray and their apparent selfishness and disillusionment mirrors Addie’s own personality. Before Addie’s monolgue, there are constant references to her unhappiness by other characters;...
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Posted by ehubbard on November 24, 2003 at 11:10 PM
Addie's Narrative Strategically Placed
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Eli Maitland
The most striking thing about the placement of Addie's narrative in the novel is that it is sandwiched between two of the most hypocritical narratives in the novel, Cora's and Whitfield's. This placement serves to drastically alter the reader's perception of Addie, if he/she had begun to form one previously....
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Posted by emaitlan on November 24, 2003 at 10:32 PM
The Living Dead
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Ryan Helminiak
The placement of Addie's lone entry into the novel is striking because it occurs over 100 pages after Addie has died. It is a wonder that Addie speaks at all. Words are not something that Addie is very fond of, as she often speaks contemptuously of words - "the high...
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Posted by rhelmini on November 24, 2003 at 10:17 PM
To be or not to be?
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Greg Pearson
Darl’s final narration is delivered almost entirely in the third person, from what appears to be the perspective of Vardaman. In it he describes himself as he is loaded on to a train to be taken away, following his mental breakdown. However, this should not come as a complete surprise,...
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Posted by gpearson on November 24, 2003 at 09:49 PM
Darl's Destruction
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Dan Yingst
Darl’s sudden descent into madness at the end of As I Lay Dying results in reversal of the roles the in the Bundren family. Darl, who had until this point, acted as the voice of reason and seemed to be the least biased of any of the characters has become...
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Posted by dyingst on November 24, 2003 at 09:23 PM
Addie's Distaste for Hypocrisy
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Liz Button
The fact that Addie's narrative is juxtaposed against the narratives of Cora and Whitfield is what makes its placement intriguing. Addie is the least religious character in the novel while Cora and Whitfield are the most typically pious characters. This juxtaposition of characters with completely opposite life views forces...
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Posted by ebutton on November 24, 2003 at 08:59 PM
Darl's transformation
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Tasha Graff
Darl is central to the weaving of the monologues of the Bundren family and outsiders. Throughout the novel, Darl keeps coming back to narrate. Darl is the unifying force behind a family that is tearing apart because of the death of Addie. However, in Darl’s final monologue (253-254) Darl is...
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Posted by tgraff on November 24, 2003 at 08:43 PM
The "Sandwiching" of Addie's Narration
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jade Dunn
First, Addie's solitary monologue appears to serve as a "rebuttal" to the narration before it - Cora's narration. Condemning Addie for her pride and vanity, Cora claims that Addie can’t be helped - "Not even after Brother Whitfield, a godly man if ever one breathed God's breath, prayed for...
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Posted by jdunn2 on November 24, 2003 at 08:35 PM
Questioning Words
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Kira Chappelle
The placement of Addie’s sole monologue is interesting because it contrasts how Addie views salvation, with how the adjacent narrators, Cora and Whitfield, view salvation. Their contradictory views then lead readers to question the reliability of the narrators and their words of As I Lay Dying. Cora and Whitfield are...
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Posted by kchappel on November 24, 2003 at 08:08 PM
Darl as Vardaman
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Drew Fulton
In Darl’s final narrative of the story we see a very different Darl then in other sections. Throughout the story Darl has been the only character that has been able to go outside his own body and see a situation from another characters point of view. In this section Darl...
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Posted by afulton on November 24, 2003 at 06:41 PM
To Sin Or Not To Sin
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Niki Alvarez
Addie’s one and only monologue placement is very interesting, because it is placed between the two “religious” figures in the novel, and Addie could care less about religion. Cora spends her time judging Addie even though she states that “it is not us that can judge our sins or...
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Posted by nalvarez on November 24, 2003 at 04:51 PM
Empty Sounds for Sin and Salvation
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Sophie Wiss
More interesting than the involvement of Addie’s monologue after she has died, the placement of Addie’s monologue between the two most hypocritical monologues in the novel augments the important contrast between different understandings of sin and salvation and tempts the narratee to grant the latter to Addie—and Addie only....
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Posted by swiss on November 24, 2003 at 02:33 PM
Darl's Search for Definite Answers
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Meghan Gillis
Throughout the course of As I Lay Dying, the reader becomes accustomed to Darl’s ability to narrate events at which he is not present for. However, the reader is not familiarized with Darl referring to himself in the third person, as is displayed in his final disturbing monologue. Earlier...
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Posted by mgillis on November 24, 2003 at 02:27 PM
Sin-what is it?
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Alix Roy
Addie’s single monologue is placed between the two characters she most dislikes. Everything Addie believes in and looks down upon is framed in the characters of Whitman and Cora. In her entry, Addie speaks of sin and love as mere “sounds that people who have never sinned nor loved nor...
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Posted by aroy on November 24, 2003 at 02:26 PM
Darl’s Last Stand
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Jason Lewis
As Darl is being dragged away to Jackson, his degeneration from a character with much thoughtful insight into the thoughts and emotions of others into an illogical, ranting lunatic has ensued. Although Darl still possesses the ability to displace himself into other situations, noting that as he lays in his...
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Posted by jlewis2 on November 24, 2003 at 11:43 AM
Perceptions
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Merrie Railsback
In his final monologue, sitting on the train on his way to Jackson, the insane asylum, Darl has clearly lost touch with reality. He rambles incoherently, and much of what he says is nonsensical. It would appear that this final monologue shows us that Darl has no remnants of his...
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Posted by mrailsba on November 24, 2003 at 09:10 AM
dA ReAliSt HaS a SaY!
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Torri Parker
There are two really interesting facts about the placement of Addie’s monologue. The first is the fact that it comes after her death, after all but one person has reflected on their feelings about her death, and ironically that one person is one of the only people she cherished while...
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Posted by cparker on November 24, 2003 at 02:05 AM
Addie’s Unfortunate Position
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Britta Bene
Faulkner’s choice of positioning Addie’s monologue in-between Cora and Whitfield is very interesting. Addie, the only insightful and “real” character in the book, suddenly finds herself surrounded by two blind hypocrites. Cora, who claims selflessness but who wants to be recognized for her Christian actions and who judges Addie, although...
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Posted by bbene on November 23, 2003 at 07:52 PM
Crazy vs. Caring
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Taneisha Wilson
Darl’s peculiarity is evident throughout the novel, both because of Darl’s own actions and because of the way in which other characters describe him. Darl’s strange ways are understood through Darl’s last monologue where he is being taken away to a lunatic asylum. In the beginning of the book, Darl...
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Posted by twilson on November 23, 2003 at 07:09 PM
Darl Proves His Own Insanity
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Ged Wieschhoff
Darl’s final monologue is proof (from Darl himself) that he has actually gone "crazy.” Faulkner chooses to have Darl narrate his final monolog in the third person to prove Darl’s insanity. Early on Faulkner establishes an archetype for “crazy” characters with the creation of Vardaman, and he uses Cash to...
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Posted by gwieschh on November 23, 2003 at 06:57 PM
Darl has gone to Jackson
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Andrew Morrison
In Darl’s final monologue we view the continuance of his ability to depict situations that he does not directly view and thereby shift perspective. For instance, he describes “Jewel standing beside [the wagon] and looking up the street like any other man in town that day.” (p. 254) However, this...
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Posted by amorriso on November 23, 2003 at 12:24 PM
Darl's Final Monologue: Has Anything Truly Changed?
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Alex Paul
In his final monologue, Darl Bundren—after being declared insane—finds himself being escorted to the Jackson asylum. While few can deny that, in this chapter, Darl acts in a manner very different from other points in the novel, it is interesting to note that some of his central tendencies remain...
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Posted by apaul on November 22, 2003 at 10:34 PM
Cora and Addie and the trouble with words
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Emily Sheffield
It is not surprising that Faulkner places Addie’s one and only narration after one of Cora’s most notable monologues in As I Lay Dying. Faulkner uses Cora, a gossiping, condescending and small-minded woman to foil Addie and her lack of faith in others and their words. Addie mistrusts words because...
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Posted by esheffie on November 21, 2003 at 06:39 PM
Ninth blog assignment
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Mark Phillipson
Ninth Blog Assignment Ninth blog (09 Blog): Post before class on Tuesday, Nov. 25. *** Pick one: What is particularly interesting about the placement of Addie’s one and only monologue? In your answer, make sure you connect to a specific passage in that monologue. - or - Look through Darl’s...
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Posted by mphillip on November 20, 2003 at 05:17 PM