As I Lay Dying
(William Faulkner)
Though Addie is dead through most of the novel, she is characterized as one of the most important characters. The novel centers on her and the journey to bury her with her blood relatives rather than with Anse and her children. Her feelings about life were only expressed in Cora Tull?s memories and substantiated in the one monologue after her death. Her feelings in this monologue portrayed a sinful, action-based, vengeful, and regretful woman, who wanted nothing more than to die.
Addie?s affair with Whitfield and their illegitimate child, Jewel, validated that Addie no longer cared for Anse or her children. She perceived this sin as directly opposing God and speculated that Whitfield ?was the instrument ordained by God who created the sin, to sanctify that sin He had created?. However she had no remorse for the deed that was done because she hid nothing, tried to deceive no one, and would not have cared, but she ?merely took the precautions that he thought necessary for his sake?, and not her safety. She could have cared less what happened to her, but she did uphold Whitfield and his reputation, by taking these precautions. Another validation of sin was promoted by Cora Tull in her preceding monologue. She knew nothing about the affair between Addie and Whitfield, but judged Addie for not thanking God for her children or her lot in life. She also asserted that Addie had spoken ?sacrilege? when she inferred that Jewel would save her ?from the water and from the fire?.
Words to Addie meant nothing, especially the words that influenced her to marry Anse. She felt tricked by words and ?learned that words are no good; that words don?t ever fit even what they are trying to say at.?
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