Themes: Sanity and Insanity

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By chronicling both the Bundrens' arduous journey and Darl's descent into madness, Faulkner explores the themes of sanity and insanity. The idea of the Bundrens undertaking such a challenging trip seems irrational to both readers and other characters. However, for most of the Bundrens, the journey appears completely rational considering their ultimate goals: Anse's desire for new teeth, Dewey Dell's need for an abortion, and Jewel's loyalty to his beloved mother. While their motivations might seem self-centered and out of touch with societal norms, they are understandable, even if they seem misplaced in the given circumstances. Since each narrator holds perspectives that others might perceive as irrational, the novel suggests that judgments about sanity are subjective.

Darl's situation is unique, though. He exhibits signs of telepathy, sets fire to Gillespie's barn, is eventually placed in a mental institution, and ends his final narration with a tirade. Yet, Darl's actions are reactions to forces beyond his control. He cannot ignore the lack of his mother's love, nor can he mute his heightened sensitivity to the world around him. Other characters might seem "sane" solely because they attempt to stay detached from reality. Because Darl is unable, or unwilling, to remain unaware, he may be overwhelmed by his perception. As André Bleikasten points out in Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, "From the depths of his own madness, Darl discovers—and makes us discover—the madness of the universe."

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Themes: Love and Passion

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