Although about every character in the novel As I Lay Diing by William Faulkner could be considered morally equivocal. or seen as holding assorted ethical motives. Addie Bundren tops the list. She narrates merely one chapter in the book which is juxtaposed by the description of her by other storytellers in predating and following chapters. Faulkner makes a strong point this manner refering moral ambiguity as it seems. in the novel. that she is the pivot point on which other characters’ ethical motives lie.
In Addie’s chapter. placed in the centre of the novel. she delves into. and replies. many of the implicit in inquiries that Faulkner has left open-ended. Addie is morally confounding. or it seems she herself is confused. She loves Cash and she loves Jewel. two of her boies ( different male parents ) . while the remainder of her kids she “loves. ” Darl. Dewey Dell. and Vardaman. Addie marries Anse ; nevertheless. neither she nor Anse love each other in the right signifier of the word. In fact. Addie has an matter with the clergyman from town. Whitfield. the terminal consequence being Jewel. Although Addie attentions for her household. as purportedly seen in other chapters. Faulkner makes it clear that she is so morally equivocal. Who doesn’t she love? Within the confines of the novel it is difficult to state.
Anse’s ethical motives are ill-defined as he revolves about Addie as her hubby. Whitfield’s morality flexible joints on his matter with Addie. Dewey Dell’s issues with her pregnancy/abortion all follow along with Addie’s illness and decease. Jewel’s ethical motives are wholly directed towards his female parent and no 1 else. whereas Darl’s actions environing his female parent reflect ill-defined. potentially psychopathologic ethical motives. Addie is the polar point for most characters in the novel As I Lay Diing in that all of their ethical motives are in reaction. or have a direct correlativity. to her actions. Addie is the most of import individual in the novel because non merely is she herself morally estranged. but by merely being she causes those around her to roll from their ain moralss.
The ground that Faulkner employs a supporter as such an influential morally equivocal character is to show the fact that people will hold a permanent impact on you. even after they are no longer populating.
