“It seems as if it is not so much what a man does, but how the majority of people look at him when he does it,” (Faulkner, 233). In William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, there is a clear gap between death and birth and between words and thoughts that ultimately changes the way events are perceived. Peabody explains that death does not take a single form, but rather different forms based on different perspectives. He said: “I remember when I was young I believed that death was a bodily phenomenon; now I know that it is only a function of the mind” (44). This forms the philosophy that seemingly concrete events like birth, death, and intervening life are not absolute at all. Rather, emotions shape them into unique events that vary from person to person. Through the insight of his characters, Faulkner also seems to suggest that words do not mean the same thing to everyone. Rather, each person's unique perceptions give different meaning to the same words. This is another way in which reality, in this case the reality of language, varies. Ultimately, through multiple contradictions, through the primacy of the individual, and through a deviation from expected emotional reactions, Faulkner expounds his theory that reality is indefinite and that individual perceptions and emotions, and not just the facts, shape reality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayFaulkner uses his characters as vehicles to express the belief that reality and events are undefined and are formed as much on the basis of emotions and individual perspectives than on real facts. Faulkner develops this theme mainly around Darl's presumed madness and the various reactions associated with it. Darl has an uncanny ability to sense the personal feelings of his siblings and take on their personalities. Thus, his reaction to his own madness eerily mimics the reactions of his siblings. During his last appearance, he proclaims: "Darl is our brother, our brother Darl. Our brother Darl in a cage in Jackson where, his filthy hands resting lightly in the silent gaps, looking out, he is foaming. "Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes,” (254). Having an eerily similar reaction, Vardaman represents the impressionable masses of society at large. Young and innocent, Vardaman does not have strong opinions but rather adopts the opinions of the majority around him. Vardaman perceives Darl's madness in a much more black and white way. He simply declares: "Darl is my brother. Darl has gone crazy" (250). This stands in direct contrast to Cash's much more philosophical reaction. For it is Cash who states most lucidly: “It’s as if it’s not so much what a man does, but rather how the majority of people look at him when he does it” (233). He also says: “Sometimes I'm not sure who has the right to say when a man is crazy and when he is not. Sometimes I think that none of us are completely crazy and none of us are completely sane until the balance of things is reached. let’s talk to him that way” (233). Thus, it encapsulates Faulkner's belief that reality, in this case the reality of Darl's madness, is only reality if our perceptions judge it to be so. Otherwise, reality becomes a complete falsehood. Jewel once again stands out from the rest of the family. He feels little guilt, grief, or remorse for the imprisonmentvirtual version of Darl, bluntly telling Darl, “You fucking lying son of a bitch” (213). These very varied reactions to Darl's madness prove that reality does not maintain any defined form but rather varies according to the emotions or perceptions of each individual. Words, as used in As I Lay Dying, often do not accurately reflect the impressions or implications that the character is trying to convey. transmit through them. Thus, the perceived precision of words decreases and reality becomes more abstract. Words are defined in their tangible form. However, words only achieve meaning through the personal connotations attached to them. As Addie states: “That’s when I learned that words are worthless; that words never even correspond to what they are trying to say” (171). Communication between characters seems more effective when words are not used at all, further emphasizing the ineffectiveness of words. For example, during Dewey Dell and Darl's conversation regarding her pregnancy, no words are spoken out loud. This nonverbal conversation not only seems more effective in conveying its meaning, but Dewey Dell also expresses that if it had been spoken out loud, she would not have believed it. This again suggests the fallibility of words. Dewey Dell explains: “It was then, and then I saw Darl and he knew. He said he knew without words...and I knew he knew because if he had said he knew with words, I wouldn't have believed he had been there and seen us »(27). This apparent ineffectiveness of words forces the reader to observe the uncertainty of life's events; events that are based on individual reactions to a situation as opposed to factual meaning. Each character's different reaction to Addie's death illustrates Faulkner's concept of the primacy of the individual. Their words reflect different responses, thus proving that similar words and events have very diverse connotations. Vardaman's inability to face the reality of Addie's death highlights her childish, often naive reaction to many different events. His reaction seems to be the most disconnected from reality. He mutters, "My mother is a fish" (84) and "She's cut into non-fish pieces now, with no blood on my hands and overalls" (53). He also reacts by denying his mother's physical death, saying: “My mother is not in the box. My mother doesn't smell like that. My mother is a fish” (196). Although this seems ridiculous, its clarity becomes apparent if observed in a more philosophical way. Indeed, Addie is not lying in the box, but only her body is lying in the box. The real person, his spirit, swam down the river. He cannot accept reality and so his fantasy becomes his reality. He sincerely believes that his mother is a fish and therefore asks himself: “Where is my darling?... You never had her. You know she’s a fish but you let her get away” (151). Darl's reaction to Addie's death contrasts sharply with Vardaman's when he states, "Addie Bundren won't be." And Jewel is, so Addie Bundren must be. And then I have to be, otherwise I wouldn't be able to empty myself to sleep in a strange state. bedroom. And so if I am not yet empty, I am” (81). Vardaman's response seems much more philosophical and his reaction remains internalized. His inability to express his feelings in words reinforces the primacy of the internal individual over the physical world. Anse reacts by completely denying his illness when he says, "Lie down and rest...I knew you weren't sick." You’re just tired” (37). Finally, Cash has the most physical reaction toAddie's death. He focuses exclusively on earthly concerns such as his tools and the mechanics of making the coffin. Cash goes on to describe the construction of the coffin, the physical way he dealt with Addie's death. He states: “I did it at an angle...It makes a neater job” (82-3). He is the only one of the three sons who does not associate Addie with an imaginary entity or animal. Darl associates Addie with “it was” (101) and he associates Jewel’s mother with “a horse” (101). Finally, Vardaman associates Addie with “a fish” (84). Cash never enters into this conversation and thus appears more in touch with reality than the other characters. These very different reactions underline the primacy of the individual over a singular reality through multifaceted reactions to the same event. The uncertainty of reality and the different visions of an event resurface in the infamous river crossing scene. The even-keeled Tull states the facts very simply, stating: "...Darl jumped out of the wagon and left Cash sitting there, trying to save him...the mules finally freed him, he seemed for a minute that maybe Cash would allow us to get the cart back” (152-4). He plays the role of the omniscient narrator, telling the story using simply the facts. This serves as a point of reference for the narrations of the other characters, full of emotion and discontinuity. The different characters' stories about crossing the river reflect the same emotions each character feels over Addie's death. Vardaman, the character least in touch with reality, continues to be unable to separate himself from the idea that his mother still exists as a fish. He remains obsessed with the idea of ​​Addie continuing to live on Earth in a fish body. Cash focuses entirely on earthly things like the coffin, saying, “It wasn’t balanced. I told them that if they wanted him carried and put on a scale, they should do it” (165). Finally, Darl seems to assume the feelings of each character. He seems slow to act and deliberate in his movements, which reflects his reaction to Addie's death, slow to accept her death and deliberate in overcoming it. The different accounts of the river crossing illustrate the probability of different visions of an event, thus making the existence of a singular reality problematic. There is a divergence from the typical emotions associated with birth. Societal norms want a birth to be a happy event. However, Addie and Dewey Dell display a deviation from reality as they feel their loneliness has been violated by their unexpected pregnancies. So they feel anger instead of joy. Cora represents the typical stereotype of society when she emphasizes: "God gave you children to comfort your human lot and as a sign of his own suffering and love, for in love you conceived them and you worn” (166). Right after Cora's remarks come Addie and Dewey Dell's angry feelings toward their children. Their remarks debunk traditional stereotypes about birth due to their past experiences and current circumstances. Pregnancy violates her solitude in Dewey Dell's mind and she laments: "It's because I'm alone. If only I could feel it, it would be different, because I wouldn't be alone. But if I didn't wasn't alone, everyone would know.. Then I could be all alone" (59). Addie's feelings of violation and anger mirror those of Dewey Dell. She testifies that "When he was born, I knew that motherhood had been invented by someone who had to have a word to say it because the one who had the children didn't care," (44).