The novel As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner takes place in the years following the Civil War in the South, specifically the 1920s. Following the freedom of slaves, a new economic gap was created in American society, requiring people to do the laborious work previously done by slaves. With this gap, a new economic system of farming grew the fill the gap –sharecropping. Although marketed in a different way, sharecropping utilized unfair practices and caused heavy debt for the farmers, creating a cycle of poverty. In the novel, the Bundrens fall victim to the consequences of sharecropping and are riddled by poverty. Because of this poverty, Faulkner consistently emphasizes the notion that the Bundrens are dissociated from society due to their …show more content…
When describing Jewel, Faulkner goes into great detail regarding his unusual clothing, stating that he was, “Indian dressed in patched overalls and endued with life from the hips down…” (4). Faulkner's comparison of Jewel to a Native American introduces this ragged presentation that the Bundrens have, since Native Americans traditionally do not have clean presentation due to them living off the land. This is idea is furthered by the use of the word “patched” which leads the reader to believe that the Bundrens cannot afford new clothes and instead use scraps of cloth to repair their limited clothing supply. Jewel’s outfit is topped off by Jewel’s, “...frayed and broken straw hat…” (3). This image forces the read to consider why the hat is in its condition. One of the more plausible explanations is that the hat has been around for many years, since they cannot afford a new one. Many aspects of Jewel’s outfit established in the first chapter all point to this idea that the Bundrens are a poor family. Yet another place in the novel where this same notion is conveyed is through the actions of Darl and Jewel. When faced with the the situation of their mother’s imminent death, they opt to go into town to make three dollars. In many cultures and peoples’ morals, someone's life is nearly impossible to put a price tag on. Consequently, Darl and …show more content…
This dissociation can best be explained by the Bundren’s constant struggle to adapt with their relatively new social class in the post-Civil War era society of the South. One of the roots to the Bundren’s dissociation is that they live a very secluded lifestyle in Yoknapatawpha County, that is very different to the pace of life than that of the majority of society. The county that the Bundrens reside in has a reputation for being very dirty and poor region and shows the effects of the Civil War. When describing the area around them, a pre-Civil War cotton house is vividly depicted: “Square, with a broken roof set at a single pitch, it leans in empty and shimmering dilapidation” (4). It is apparent that this cotton house has been forgotten by society, much like the Bundrens and everyone who lives near it. Living surrounded by degrading artifacts of a once fruitful time period will cause the majority of people to question society and their morals. The Bundrens are undergoing just that transformation at the time of the novel. Another major root of their dissociation is due to the flipped roles within the family. One of the most clear examples of this can be seen in Anse, their supposed to be father of the family. Despite holding this title, his actions reflect quite the opposite. Anse is a selfish character who will use his power if it means he gets his way. While on the