As I Lay Dying

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As I Lay Dying Journal 3. In the novel, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, the author juxtaposes three monologues, which alternates between Tull and Darl in section 31, section 32, and sections 33. In these few chapters, the Bundrens are carrying the coffin to the bridge while Tull follows along on his mule, that Tull was stubborn to sell. Sections 31 and 33 are both narrated by Tull, but these sections are interrupted by the narration in which Darl recounts for us the story of Jewel’s obtaining the horse. In Tull’s narration, we note Anse’s complete helplessness when Anse is confronted with some obstacle, in this instance, the washed out bridge. In Tull’s perspective, when he arrived at the river’s edge, he finds himself being stared at in very different ways by the Bundren children. Tull notices that the intensity of Darl’s gaze makes it seem “like somehow you was looking at yourself and your doings outen his eyes” (118). Darl is enigmatic, and his gaze supports this air of mystery. His stare is completely lacking in lust and has the overarching power of observing, processing, and explaining everything around him. In this fictional world, where characters are wrapped up in their own thoughts and communicate very little with each other, Darl’s ability to look inside others’ hearts is perceived as a powerful threat. Each character treasures his or her secrets and hidden desires, and is troubled by, and resentful of this glance that seems to lay them all bare. Tull observes Darl in a very interesting way. Tull makes the remark that Darl has always been considered somewhat strange, and in Tull’s view what Darl says is not as strange as the manner in which Darl looks at a person. In Darl’s section, he explains how dedicated Jewel can be when confronted with the task of earning money to purchase a horse. This dedication should be juxtaposed to his love for his
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