Nostalgia

One of the themes that we’ve discussed in relation to modernism, and which also comes up in connection with the American South, is nostalgia. Certainly, in the early 20th century, a mythology of the agrarian South as a peaceful, harmonious place destroyed by the Civil War (as in, for instance, Gone With The Wind) offers a counterpoint to the alienation and confusion of modernity. It’s hard to see As I Lay Dying, however, as very nostalgic for the way of life that the Bundrens have experienced. While they embody the Northern stereotypes of “backward” Southerners, they also “belong” to the modern world in many ways, in their selfishness and materialism, for instance. The paradox here is that Darl the most “cosmopolitan” (in his own limited way) is the one who doesn’t belong to their future. As Cash says at the end of the novel, “This world is not his world” (1955). What is Faulkner saying about “this world” and where it’s going?

As I Lay Dying

If you’re finding the novel a bit confusing — and really, who wouldn’t? — you might take a look at some of the information on this page from William Faulkner on the Web, a site at the University of Mississippi.

Faulkner

As a couple of people have pointed out, I put the wrong page numbers for As I Lay Dying on the syllabus. My apologies! You should read up to 1889 for Thursday — I’ll update the posted schedule and correct the various problems as soon as I can. Thanks!