Essay on The Role of Isolation in As I Lay Dying - 1298 Words

William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, tells the story of a family that journeys cross-country with the intentions to find a proper resting place for their mother, Addie Bundren. After reading for only a short time, it becomes clear that two of her sons, Jewel and Darl, play a much larger role in the story than the other siblings. One could find many good points to support either character being labeled as the protagonist of the story, such as the various tensions that can clearly be seen between them. That being said, Darl is, without a doubt, the best possible choice. He is forced to overcome more obstacles, including alienation from his entire family, than any other character, and is truly a changed person by the end of the novel.†¦show more content†¦He usually doesn’t get along with his brother, Jewel, and often scrutinizes and makes fun of him, most likely out of pure jealousy. At one point, Darl goes so far as to try to keep Jewel isolated from his mo ther as she is dying. Darl also has what can only be described as telepathic abilities. He is the only character in the book that can accurately describe what is occurring at locations other than the one he is at. This ability is discovered when it becomes obvious that Darl knows of Dewey Dell’s pregnancy, despite the fact that she has maintained absolute secrecy in the matter. In fact, Darl discovers Addie’s death telepathically, and is able to tell Jewel about her death before either one of them have even returned to the house to see her. Darl’s own telepathy will become the biggest obstacle he is forced to confront in the novel, and it will eventually lead to his demise. While Darl does embark on the cross-country journey with the rest of his family, he never fully supports or commits himself the idea. This resurfaces towards the end of the novel when it becomes apparent that Darl feels embarrassed about traveling across the country with his mother’s corpse. The result of these feelings is Darl’s decision to burn down the barn that is sheltering Addie’s coffin. This gives the reader enough information to make an assumption as to what the Bundren family’s opinion of Darl really is: Could they perhaps view him as aShow MoreRelatedMarriage Is A Spiritual Act1282 Words   |  6 Pagesbride, and the expectations He had from His bride. Marriage is An Example to a Dying World S econd, we must realize we are to model the spiritual act for a dying world; see Ephesians 5:25-27. The current world we live in is filled with despair, confusion, isolation, independence, and hurt. The world is filled with hurting people all seeking an answer to their grief. The biblical marriage union shows to a dying world the best example of love. 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