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As I Lay Dying Character Analysis

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With the journey to Jefferson looming over the Bundren family, boundaries of sanity and insanity begin to haze. Darl, the main narrator of “As I Lay Dying”, borders on the edge of lunacy throughout the novel. He often has spasms of laughter, which seem to bear little relevance to the current situation, except to an exterior observer. Darl’s internal monologue, a constant stream of ideas, thoughts, and stories, expresses the audacity and the sheer madness his family is enduring. As the story progresses, many characters see Darl exhibiting signs of insanity, but to an observant eye, Darl may be the sanest of them all. In “As I Lay Dying”, Darl possesses the unique ability to perceive the feelings and thoughts of other characters. As a result of his perceptiveness, Darl has insightfulness into multiple characters lives; hence, how he understands the relation between Jewel and Addie and the pregnancy of Dewey Dell. Darl continually taunts Jewel about being a fatherless child and even mentions, “Jewels’ mother is a horse,” (151). Even with this knowledge, Darl only heckles and degrades the characters; therefore, causing them to ultimately categorize him as insane. …show more content…
The Bundern, family having scarce options, either must pay for the burned barn or claim Darl was insane during this time period. The family accepts the latter deal. Even as Darl spirals down into the madness, he continues to narrate, but the narrations have switched to third person. Darl’s narration begins with, “Darl has gone to Jackson. They put him on the train, laughing,” (253) He continues to laugh all the way to Jackson. The pure absurdity of the Bundren family’s situation grips Darl’s mind causing him to eventually lose his sanity. Yet, even with Darl being seemingly mad, his actions can be

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