3.3 The change of non-ego 16

Conclusion 20

Works Cited 22 

Causes of Darl Bundren’s Tragedy in As I Lay Dying

Introduction

William Faulkner (1897—1962) is recognized as one of the greatest writers in the 20th century, who is famous for Yoknapatawpha series of novels throughout the world. Because of his highly and powerfully artistic unique contribution to the modern American novels, he was awarded the 1949 Nobel Prize for literature. The novel As I Lay Dying is one of the best masterpieces of William Faulkner’s, which attracts many critics’ attention. As I Lay Dying shows many inner monologue of the characters by adopting stream of consciousness. As I Lay Dying is a story about a variety of encounter of the Bundrens during the process of funeral. The whole contents are pided into 59 sections, each of them is the monologue of 15 characters and adopts first-person narration except chapter57. In this novel, William Faulkner uses his deep insight to describe the poor life and the inner world of the southern United States as well as the mental state that they fight with the fate, which not only reveals the ugliness of human nature, but also reflects positive thoughts that human can endure hardship and win. 

    As I Lay Dying is the representative work of William Faulkner. Many critics and scholars have done so much research on As I Lay Dying. Richard P.Adams describes As I Lay Dying by archetypal criticism from the perspective of the myths of ancient Greece. Apart from it, William Rossky holds the opinion that As I Lay Dying is a novel about the true opinion of existence. David Minter thinks that As I Lay Dying is a story of lacking parent’s love and tragic children. In China, many critics also do some research. Zhan Shukui analyzes the narrative skills in As I Lay Dying to study the inner world of each character. Guo Xiqing evaluates characters in As I Lay Dying, based on the foundation of real life, which helps readers better understand the novel and characters. Some researchers try to use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to deeply analyze the main character Darl, in order to find out the reason of his query. Others think that Faulkner writes brothers’ hatred through, so he studies the theme of the hatred between brothers in Faulkner’s novels and the metaphor in the race problem.    

    To explore the real cause of Darl’s tragedy, the thesis provides lots of dialogues and proofs from the novel to prove that the tragic fate of Darl is due to the society, his family and his own characteristic. After analysis of causes of Darl Bundren’s tragedy in As I Lay Dying, it can be known that Darl is dying because the disintegration of an irreversible family, which reveals the cruelty of the society, giving a strong warning to readers. This thesis is pided into three chapters. Chapter one analyzes the social background which can be further pided into two parts: effect of Civil War and effect of the First World War, both describing the influence on Faulkner himself and the characters in As I Lay Dying. Chapter two describes the family background which includes Darl’s lack of mother’s love and betrayal of his family. In the part of lack of mother’s love, the thesis further pides it into preference for Jewel and indifference to Darl. Chapter three writes the personal characteristics which include lack in sense of security, mental confusion and the change of non-ego. At last, the whole thesis is concluded by restating the viewpoints.