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Differences In William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying

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The differences that arise between older and younger generations are often lifelong and tragic. In William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Anse’s unorthodox views are at odds with almost everyone else’s views, including the views of his family members, such as Darl’s, Jewel’s, and Dewey Dell’s. Throughout the entire book, Anse’s main goal is to travel to Jefferson, Mississippi, in order to bury his wife there, as this was his wife’s wish. However, because of his stupid insistence on achieving this goal, he fails to realize the liabilities that are ultimately associated with the journey. On the other hand, his second eldest, Darl, seems to understand perfectly well what kind of situation Anse has led their family into. Out of all of the Bundren children, Darl is the most …show more content…

From the start of the book, Dewey Dell behaves indifferent to her mother’s death, due to her desperate need for an abortion. The rest of the family, other than Darl, are unaware of this, and therefore, do not take action to help her. Eventually, the family’s neighbor, Cora Tull, gives Dewey Dell money in order to fulfill her wishes when they arrive at Jefferson. However, once they reach Jefferson, Anse forces Dewey Dell to give up her money so that he can buy a pair of false teeth. Anse believes that he has full control over his children, and therefore, treats his children callously and demandingly. In return, his children do not think too highly of him, regarding him with hatred or disrespect. The harsh ways that both Anse and the children treat each other, the idea that the family cannot achieve a sense of unity and love, is the basis of the tragedy in the book. Instead of staying together and supporting each other through the numerous disasters that they experience, each person in the family resolves to pursue his or her own desire, inadvertently ruining the family in the

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