14. Faulkner -- As I Lay Dying, Part II

The podcast delves into William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," exploring its connection to the epic tradition through Homer and Dante. It examines the use of epic conventions such as the voice of the dead and the blurring of human and non-human boundaries. The analysis focuses on the characters Tull and Jewel, highlighting their associations with animals—mules and buzzards for Tull, and horses and snakes for Jewel—to reveal deeper meanings about their identities and the themes of the novel. The discussion extends to Addie Bundren's monologue, linking it to the paternity of Jewel and the character of Whitfield, further enriching the understanding of Faulkner's narrative techniques and character development.