The title of the novel gives its reader certain expectations of the summary or theme, so when we see the title As “I” Lay Dying, we assume that the narration will be written from the point of view of a person who is dying, but that is not the case. So far, we haven’t heard from Addie’s perspective at all, except for a few words tossed into conversations with her sons and doctor. I flipped forward a few chapters and saw that a segment does get narrated by her, (perhaps a flashback, since this was after her passing). Instead, we get the narrative of people who have to watch her die, and live after her passing. So that got me thinking, who or what else is dying in this novel?
Addie’s passing symbolizes the metaphorical death of everything and everyone around her. She was the glue holding the family together, keeping relationships functional, and once she is out of the picture the household begins to fall apart. There is sibling rivalry, the source of which most often is competition for their mother’s affection. Bickering amongst the children and father, who is lazy and selfish. If we listen to the critiques of Cora Tull, conservative familial values and religion are dying as well, as she reprimands the Bundren’s for burying Addie so far away from where the rest of them will be buried, severing the ties between a ‘proper’ Christian mother and children and husband and wife. Anse speaks of the trip the family will make to Jefferson as a necessity to fulfil his wife’s dying wish, but is really going out of ulterior motives to get his teeth fixed, which marks the death of respect and familial obligation. This speaks to his character, if his main concern after the death of his wife is such triviality as physical appearance. The estate and the neighborhood in which the Bundrens live is dying and falling apart as well. They are depicted as being poor, frugal and skimping on everything. The boys pick up any job they can to make a little extra money. After the rain washes away the bridge, they lack the funds to make the necessary repairs.
