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In William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," the character Dewey Dell Bundren grapples with an unwanted pregnancy, which becomes a poignant symbol of her isolation and despair within the context of a dysfunctional and fractured family. Dewey Dell's journey through the novel is not only a physical one to bury her mother, but also an emotional and psychological one as she navigates the complexities of her own desires, societal expectations, and the harsh realities of her circumstances. Her pregnancy serves as a powerful lens through which Faulkner explores the themes of isolation and despair, shedding light on the internal struggles of a young woman who is burdened by her own secret and burdened by her family's relentless journey to bury their matriarch.
From the onset of the novel, Dewey Dell's isolation is palpable.
Her voice is often suppressed within the narrative, mirroring her lack of agency and influence within the family. She is caught in a web of her family's eccentricities, a position that exacerbates her isolation.
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Her pregnancy further intensifies this sense of being trapped, as her predicament sets her apart from the rest of the family, making her feel as if her own struggle is isolated from theirs. In her stream-of-consciousness passages, Dewey Dell expresses the weight of her isolation, "But I am alone. And they are in their group and I am alone" (Faulkner, 146). Her inability to share her plight with anyone intensifies her emotional isolation, causing her to become a bystander in her own life.
The pregnancy itself becomes a symbol of despair, as it amplifies the hopelessness of Dewey Dell's situation.
The reasons for her pregnancy—her longing for love, her youthful innocence, and her trust in Lafe—reflect the desperation she feels in her search for connection and purpose. However, as her options for dealing with the pregnancy narrow, her despair deepens. She seeks a cure for her pregnancy from a local pharmacist, Peabody, mistakenly believing that he can provide her with an abortion-inducing drug. When she discovers that the "cure" is merely a false promise, her sense of desperation is heightened, leaving her with no escape from the impending responsibilities of motherhood.
Furthermore, Dewey Dell's attempts to seek guidance from others often lead to disappointment, reinforcing her sense of isolation. Her conversations with her brother Vardaman and the preacher Whitfield serve to emphasize the divide between her internal struggle and the external world. Vardaman's innocent and simple perception of death contrasts sharply with Dewey Dell's profound emotional turmoil, leaving her feeling even more disconnected from those around her. Whitfield's inability to truly understand her plight, as well as his own conflicted nature, only further deepens her sense of isolation.
Dewey Dell's internal monologues and the desperate attempts she makes to address her pregnancy underscore the complexity of her character. Her initial desperation gives way to a resigned acceptance of her situation, as she realizes the futility of her actions. The journey to bury her mother becomes a parallel to her own journey of grappling with her unwanted pregnancy. Both paths are laden with hardships, uncertainties, and ultimately, a confrontation with death and loss. The symbolism of her journey coinciding with her mother's funeral serves to highlight the cyclical nature of life and death, as well as the inescapable burdens that she, as a woman, must bear.
In conclusion, Dewey Dell Bundren's unwanted pregnancy in "As I Lay Dying" serves as a potent symbol of isolation and despair within the context of a fractured family. Her struggle to reconcile her own desires with societal expectations, coupled with her inability to communicate her internal turmoil, creates a sense of isolation that permeates her narrative. Her journey becomes a microcosm of the larger themes explored in the novel—the fragility of human connection, the inevitability of death, and the isolating nature of individual suffering. Through Dewey Dell's story, Faulkner masterfully captures the intricacies of human emotion and the ways in which personal struggles can become emblematic of larger societal issues.
Dewey Dell Bundren's struggle with her unwanted pregnancy: A symbol of isolation and despair in "As I Lay Dying.". (2023, Aug 25). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/dewey-dell-bundrens-struggle-with-her-unwanted-pregnancy-a-symbol-of-isolation-and-despair-in-as-i-lay-dying-essay
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