She is motivated to do whatever it takes to secure money for an abortion and is desperate to keep her pregnancy a secret from her family. She is described as a young woman who is both naive and passionate about life. She is Addie’s only daughter who is motivated by her own pregnancy and need for money. His anger is fueled by his strong sense of justice, and it drives him to dangerous lengths to make his mother pay. Despite his devotion to his family, he feels the need to take revenge against his mother for favoring her other son, Darl, over him. He is a hardworking young man, a sharp contrast to the laziness of his father, Anse. The passionate, stubborn, and vengeful son of Addie Bundren. His own mental instability creates moments of confusion and heightened emotion as he struggles to make sense of the world around him.ĭarl narrates more sections of the novel than anyone else, a total of nineteen out of fifty-nine. He has a close bond with his mother, Addie, which drives his motivations and actions throughout the story. Addie is a complicated figure, and it is clear that her past has had a significant influence on her present.Ī complex and enigmatic character. Although she loves them all, she is willing to sacrifice their well-being for her own self-interests. She is portrayed as a victim of her marriage, and her withdrawn attitude gives her a sense of power, allowing her to manipulate her husband and children with ease. The matriarch of her family in William Faulkner’s ‘ As I Lay Dying.’ She is a complex character whose motivations are driven by her own selfishness and need for control. When he does help, he gets in the way more than he is actually helpful.Īnse is an apathetic and unsympathetic character who is unwilling to put forth any effort in his own life, instead relying on his children to do it for him. He rarely contributes to any of the family’s labor, choosing instead to sit idly while his children take on the responsibilities. Readers may have a hard time keeping up with who is who and what drives each person, particularly those characters who don’t narrate as many sections as others do.Īnse Bundren is the father of the Bundren family and is characterized as being a selfish, hypocritical, and lazy man.

Along the way, the reader is introduced to each character and the individual motivations that drive their decisions. The story follows the Bundren family as they make a difficult journey to bury the matriarch of their family, Addie Bundren.

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