As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying is written in a stream of consciousness so there is never a worry about what each character is thinking. However, because it is written from so many different points of view, it is difficult as a reader to see things as they happen from the outside. This lack of interaction leaves much assumption to be done by the reader. This novel is primarily about a family and how dysfunction defines each of them. As talked about slightly in a previous post, Dewey Dell and Addie are only seen as related in the way they handle feminine love situations. There are no physical interactions between the two throughout the novel but there is an influence because the way they act as individuals to similar situations.
As I Lay Dying shows familial influence through the stream of conscious dialogue and not necessarily through verbal or physical communication. By getting into each character’s thoughts, it is access into how the influence is used by each character. Because there is more than one offspring, and both parents do a narration, you can see how each child is similar. There are huge differences in families but when accessing thoughts you can see a common influence in most cases. Anse, one of the most selfish characters in the novel is constantly after something. Every character seems to have a goal, but the materialism is what comes from the father. The lofty and more anxiety-ridden issues come from Addie and are prominent in every character. That feeling of anxiousness shows through when they are trying to obtain or secure materialistic items. Although this may not define a family, or define self, it shows the great influence that the ones nearby have over anyone in close relation.
The most important part of this whole explication has been to notice that self-identity is something people struggle with for a really long time. It is difficult to ever actually know who you are in every situation, where you came from, and how you influence others. However, it is important to note that while your family may not be what helps you or how you define yourself, but they have a great influence in who you are. While it may not always be a positive thing, it is still something that is enough to note. As I Lay Dying shows how each character relies or is influenced by others because the reader has access into each other’s thoughts. In Death of A Salesman and Long Days Journey Into Night the characters are seen physically and heard physically relating or following in family members footsteps. I think that reading all three works lets the reader know that even if you do not have access into each characters thought, or even if you cannot see how their relationships work out physically, there is still an influence. As opposed to saying that family orientation defines self, it is more appropriate in saying that family experiences influence the way in which one starts to look for self.