The Living Philosophy In Death： A Study Of Existent Ial Ism In As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying was written by William Faulkner under the great political andeconomic changes of the South America. Just as most of his works, it reveals thedesperation in people and their loss of faith in life. As a representative of thesoutherners, Faulkner felt obliged to find a solution for the misery in people’s life.Existentialism came into being under the similar conditions; it also focuses on theabsurd and isolated life people live in, furthermore it emphasizes the need to makefree choice and the importance of having a proper attitude towards death. The majornotions of Existentialism can be applied perfectly in As I Lay Dying, moreover itprovides readers with a deeper understanding of the power of life and death in thisnovel.As an attempt to explore Existentialism in the book, this research will begenerally divided into the following parts to highlight the Existentialist themes ofisolation, free choice and death in the work: Chapter One will present a briefintroduction of Existentialism, Faulkner and As I Lay Dying, as well as Existentialismin Faulkner’s works. Chapter Two aims at probing into the private inner world of theBundren family by their respective monologues thus exposes the alienation andabsurdity in every one of them, and the alienation and absurdity of the Bundrenfamily as a whole to the neighbors. Chapter Three studies the main characters of thethree sons from another perspective: the sense of responsibility and free choice,showing the positive side of their personalities and deeds, and how this theme ofExistentialism defines and settles their essence. Chapter Four examines Addie’smonologue after her death and arrives at her attitude of life and death, along with the impact of death to herself and her family. The discussion of death also leads to theinterpretation of the title of the book. The last chapter is an addition of how thenarrative structure serves to reflect the Existentialist themes of the journey. The15characters are divided into three layers of circles, turning around in their ownpositions, with no intersection with the others; however, the three circles constitutethe whole narrative structure by unwitting cooperation and interaction, which reflectsthe Existentialists’ appeal of changing the absurdity in life by taking upresponsibilities and making choices. The separation and interaction of the narrativestructure also reiterates the power of endurance and solidarity in the Bundren familyas well as human nature.The characters, the story as well as the narrating approaches in As I Lay Dyingembody the most essential themes in Existentialism. Facing the inherent absurdity andisolation in life, the Bundren families strive to make a difference in living, displayingthe capability of human being to endure and accomplish.