You have found the "BEST" Term Paper site on the Planet!
PLANETPAPERS.COM!

We GUARANTEE that you’ll find an EXEMPLARY College Level Term Paper, Essay, Book Report or Research Paper in seconds or we will write a BRAND NEW paper for you in just a FEW HOURS!!!

150,000+ Papers

Find more results for this search now!
CLICK the BUTTON to the RIGHT!

Please enter a keyword or topic phrase to perform a search.
Need a Brand New Custom Essay Now?  click here

As I Lay Dying - Objectivity/Subjectivity

Uploaded by Admin on Sep 06, 2000

“Through the use of many characters monologues the narrative point of view presents an objective view of what really happened.”


This statement is not adequate in connection with William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying. Though many points of view are expressed through the use of interior monologue, even when compiled, they cannot serve as an “objective” view of what really happened.

There are many monologues by many different people, often with opposing ideas and beliefs. Together the novel is a collection of half-truths, with each set of events shaped by what the current narrator believes is truth. To each individual what they say and think, they consider reality, however it is merely their perception of reality and consequently it is subjective. An instance of how an objective view cannot be formed from the collection of monologues is when Dewey Dell encounters Vardaman in the milking shed. “ “You durn little sneak!” My hands shake him hard… “I ain’t doing nothing””. In these two monologues both characters were so concerned with themselves and their innocence of any wrong doing that the actual order of events is lost inside their minds. Dewey Dell thought Vardaman to be spying on her, while Vardaman though Dewey Dell was going to “tell him off” for lashing out at Peabody’s team, both characters fused past events with the present and so no objective view could be formed. The reader cannot gain an objective idea of what really happened during that period of time. Another example of the actual incident and people of diametrically opposing views coming into conflict with the “reality” of what was happening was with Cora and Darl. “He did not answer. He just stood and looked at his dying mother, his heart too full for words.” This is how Cora views Darl, as a kind and loving son, the private favourite and love of Addie. Darl however, appears to be indifferent to his mother and the three dollar load. Everyone else knows that Jewel is, in fact, the favourite child; this makes the characters unreliable in relaying the actual events to the reader. Each monologue is “clouded” with the viewpoints and ideas of the character narrating it, thus it is impossible to have an objective account of what really happened.

Language is another very important factor in understanding that an objective description of the actual events is impossible to attain. Language, as stated in the...

Sign In Now to Read Entire Essay

Not a Member?   Create Your FREE Account »

Comments / Reviews

read full paper >>

Already a Member?   Login Now >

This paper and THOUSANDS of
other papers are FREE at PlanetPapers.

Uploaded by:   Admin

Date:   09/06/2000

Category:   Literature

Length:   5 pages (1,041 words)

Views:   2122

Report this Paper Save Paper
Professionally written papers on this topic:

As I Lay Dying - Objectivity/Subjectivity

  • Credit Cards and Their History

    In four pages this report considers credit cards in an historical overview that traces their beginnings and considers their develo...

  • British Pub Owners and Tax Issues

    In nine pages this report discusses fictional British pub owners Jack and Jessica Snipes and considers the tax issues confronting ...

  • Accounting Principles

    In five pages this procedures and principles associated with accounting are examined. Seven sources are cited in the bibliography...

  • Overview of IAS

    In nine pages international accounting standards are examined in terms of investments, cash flow reporting, retirement benefits, t...

  • Overview of Environmental Accounting

    In twelve pages the importance of efficient environmental accounting as a result of policies on environmental accountability is di...

  • New Regulations and the FASB

    In nine pages this paper examines the FASB and how changes in business practices has meant changes and reforms to accounting proce...

  • Accounting as a Career Path

    The writer discusses the accounting field, and considers such things as eduction and training necessary to become an accountant, t...

  • Cost Accounting by V. Daniel Hunt

    This 5 page paper discusses Hunt's book and provides an overview of basic cost accounting procedures and considers the importance ...

  • The Importance of Forensic Accounting

    This paper addresses the vital occupation of forensic accounting. The author describes duties, responsibilities, and why forensic...

  • Land Register Viability and Overriding Interest Issues

    In nine pages this paper examines the statement made by Kevin Gray regarding land register's viability and overriding interest iss...

View more professionally written papers on this topic »