How Does As I Lay Dying Relate to Each Character?
The title relates to Addie Bundren, in a literal sense, as she is the only one who actually dies in the novel. However, this is contradicted by the fact that Addie's spirit is well and alive in the novel, and is the driving force behind the family's odyssey.
Anse Bundren lost apart of himself when Addie died, so his internal struggle with her was finished after her death. This allowed for him to remarry and let go of his dead marriage through letting go of his memories and past.
The title relates to the oldest Bundren Cash in a few ways. First, in a physical sense, his broken leg. His leg causes him a great deal of pain and in the end will leave him with a permanent limp. He also has to struggle with working for the graphaphone and having his money stolen by his dad, while also dealing with the loss of his beloved mother.
Darl's internal struggles include his resentment toward his mother for the lack of love he was shown as a child, knowing even from a young age that Addie had her favorites. While dealing with this he also deals with the very real side effects of war and knowing the journey they are going on is going to make him lose his mind.
Jewel's struggle was played out in his actions and his ability to cope with stressful situations. Though he is "biologically...not part of the Bundren household," he tries to make a way for himself. His anger for the loss of his mother caused him to struggle with his family and lack of acceptance he received from them. He tried to get the horse for himself, and in the end he proved to be unselfish about someone he truly loved: his mother.
The title relates to Dewey Dell on the surface through her want to be rid of her pregnancy. He internal struggle is how she is going to move on from her mother's death because now she is the only women in the house, until the end of the novel, and she has no one to turn to with her dilemma.
Vardaman's struggle is his hope for his toy train and bananas on the trip to Jefferson, along with his internal conflict about his mother's death. His mother is a fish, and he does not have anyone explain to him that his mother is truly dead, so he constantly thinks she is still living. This may cause him to end up at Jefferson later on along with Darl because the way he speaks is relative to Darl's insights about events in the Bundren family.
http://www.shmoop.com/as-i-lay-dying/jewel-bundren.html
Anse Bundren lost apart of himself when Addie died, so his internal struggle with her was finished after her death. This allowed for him to remarry and let go of his dead marriage through letting go of his memories and past.
The title relates to the oldest Bundren Cash in a few ways. First, in a physical sense, his broken leg. His leg causes him a great deal of pain and in the end will leave him with a permanent limp. He also has to struggle with working for the graphaphone and having his money stolen by his dad, while also dealing with the loss of his beloved mother.
Darl's internal struggles include his resentment toward his mother for the lack of love he was shown as a child, knowing even from a young age that Addie had her favorites. While dealing with this he also deals with the very real side effects of war and knowing the journey they are going on is going to make him lose his mind.
Jewel's struggle was played out in his actions and his ability to cope with stressful situations. Though he is "biologically...not part of the Bundren household," he tries to make a way for himself. His anger for the loss of his mother caused him to struggle with his family and lack of acceptance he received from them. He tried to get the horse for himself, and in the end he proved to be unselfish about someone he truly loved: his mother.
The title relates to Dewey Dell on the surface through her want to be rid of her pregnancy. He internal struggle is how she is going to move on from her mother's death because now she is the only women in the house, until the end of the novel, and she has no one to turn to with her dilemma.
Vardaman's struggle is his hope for his toy train and bananas on the trip to Jefferson, along with his internal conflict about his mother's death. His mother is a fish, and he does not have anyone explain to him that his mother is truly dead, so he constantly thinks she is still living. This may cause him to end up at Jefferson later on along with Darl because the way he speaks is relative to Darl's insights about events in the Bundren family.
http://www.shmoop.com/as-i-lay-dying/jewel-bundren.html