As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner is a Southern Gothic novel that tells the harrowing journey of the Bundren family as they attempt to fulfill the dying wish of their matriarch, Addie Bundren. Addie’s final request is to be buried in her hometown of Jefferson, Mississippi.
The story is narrated through a series of monologues by fifteen different characters, each providing their perspectives and insights. The Bundren family members, including the father Anse, sons Cash, Darl, Jewel, Vardaman, and daughter Dewey Dell, face numerous trials and tribulations as they embark on the perilous journey to Jefferson.
Throughout the journey, the family encounters a series of misfortunes: Cash breaks his leg, the family’s mules drown, a fire destroys their barn, and Darl begins to lose his sanity. Each family member’s personal struggles and secrets are gradually revealed, painting a complex picture of their individual motivations and inner lives.