The characters in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying are interpreted in a variety of different ways by the other characters as well as the novel’s audiences. How are the members of the Bundren family viewed by each other, the outside world, and the reader? Why do these differ and what is the significance, if any, of Faulkner’s choice?

         Henry James’ “What Maisie Knew” focuses on the trauma a young six-year-old girl experiences due to her parents’ abuse, which is then furthered by the other, well-meaning adults in her life. The first round of her poor treatment is the neglect of her parents through the course of their divorce. Following that, Maisie is used by her parents to send messages of hate and spite, both through actions and letters, leaving Maisie herself feeling as though, “everything was bad because she had been employed to make it so.” Although her parents fight about Maisie, they do not care for her in the slightest, something Maisie appears to be somewhat aware of. However, they marry and hire individuals who appear to care more about their daughter than they do. As a result, more fighting ensues over Maisie, adding to her trauma, regardless of whether or not it was out of love.

         The choice left up to Maisie at the end of the novel is the most challenging and stressful part of the book, made all the worse by the fact that she was only six years old. Seeming cruel and inappropriate, Mrs. Wix and Sir Claude are both attempting to turn Maisie’s opinion of the other in order to win her favour. Along with hurling insults to each other and talking poorly about one another to Maisie, Sir Claude’s query, which seems to be more of a request, of Maisie is, “Should [she] see [her] way to let[ting Mrs. Wix] go?” A heartbreaking question, one that is synonymous with ‘which of us do you pick?’ Sir Claude continues on to insulting Mrs. Wix’s intelligence, “laugh[ing]” at the thought of how little she is able to teach Maisie and care for her more than Mrs. Wix would ever be able to, particularly financially, which Sir Claude continues to bring up. The most upsetting part, however, is when Maisie counters his ask with a stipulation of her own; he would have to give up Mrs. Beale. Despite Sir Claude’s supposed love for Maisie, he is unable to put her first. Sir Claude would rather stay with his soon-to-be bride than his stepdaughter.

Thankfully, Maisie stays with Mrs. Wix, despite difficulties that may arise in the future. What vindicates Maisie’s ultimate decision are the last few lines of the novel. Mrs. Wix and Maisie are leaving the hotel they had been residing in, with Sir Claude and Mrs. Beale still inside. Maisie “look[s] back” and realises that Sir Claude “wasn’t there”, “on the balcony” when she did so. The pair had just left the hotel, indicating Sir Claude should have been watching Maisie walk away, as it is most likely the last chance he had to lay eyes on her. Mrs. Wix reveals, as she cannot help herself, “He went to her”, to Mrs. Beale, who he cared for more deeply than Maisie.

James begins What Maisie Knew with the rather graphic imagery of a little girl being torn apart as the consequence of a divorce. Setting the tone for the remainder of the novel, it is made perfectly clear that this child, Maisie, “was divided in two and the portions tossed impartially to the disputants.” James’ metaphor allows the reader to comprehend immediately that this book will be about growing up in an uncaring, divisive, “impartial” environment. Maisie is automatically described as game, a human toy to be “tossed” back and forth between feuding parents. The worst aspect of all, the fact that these, “disputants” gave no thought to their daughter, rather only caring about the fact they had partial ownership of her. Maisie’s split appears to be a quintessential turning point in her life, just not a positive one. During her primary formative years, Maisie gets laden with a massive disruption to her home and learning environments. Both Maisie’s parents and the legal system have failed this little girl, opting to “split” her life up for the convenience and sake of those around her, rather than for her own wellbeing. The detached language James uses furthers the idea that Maisie truly is, at the age of six, all on her own.

Thanks to the adults’ actions around her, Maisie learns how to split herself, her personality, in two. Maisie, like many adults, has developed a public façade, one of a simpleton, in order to protect herself and her emotions. Maisie’s parents shuttled her back and forth, and upon realizing she was “a centre of hatred and a messenger of insult,” Maisie decided to ‘play dumb’. A short while after adopting this role, Maisie “began to be called a little idiot, [and] she tasted a pleasure new and keen”. Taking after her parents, Maisie is playing a game with them to get what she wants, mimicking their own dynamic. An intelligent girl, Maisie has figured out how to lessen her parents’ probing questions and malicious requests. However, Maisie feels guilty about the state of the familial relationships, placing unwarranted blame on herself. Her parents have led her to believe, “everything was bad because she had been employed to make it so” and playing dumb was Maisie’s way of attempting to minimize the harm that she assumed she was causing. Maisie has internalized a lot of her parents’ hatred and negligence and continuously attempts to gain their favour, all to no avail.