As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, is a novel about death, family and loyalty. It’s told in stream-of-consciousness narration that gives insight into the thoughts and feelings of its characters. The novel was published in 1930 and won Faulkner the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949.
The story begins with the death of Addie Bundren and continues as her family undertakes a journey to Jefferson to bury her there. The narrative is chaotic and often confusing, reflecting the family’s mental state. As they travel along their way, each member of the family has their own motivations for making the journey, which are often at odds with each other.
Faulkner uses stream-of-consciousness narration to give insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. Even so, because he jumps around chronologically and does not always provide clear explanations for his actions or thoughts as he narrates them, it can be difficult to understand his thought process at times.
