Johnson 1

Aiden Johnson
AP English III Literature and Composition
Mr. Vermylen
May 22, 2014
Sin and its Justifications in As I Lay Dying
In William Faulkners As I Lay Dying, from pages 165 to 193, sin is used to explain how
characters justify their actions. Whitfields realization of his sin justifies his intent to tell Anse of
his affair with Addie. Addies view on sin explains her favoritism towards Jewel. Coras
understanding of sin illuminates the reasoning behind her criticism of Addie.
While Whitfield serves as narrator, his moral struggle with his affair with Addie compels
him to repent to God and confess to Anse. Once Whitfield realizes the sin that he has committed,
he attempts to please God by coming clean to the Bundrens: repair to that home in which you
have put a living lie, among those people with whom you have outraged My Word (177). Even
though Whitfield never confesses to Anse, Whitfields intent to repent and his realization of the
sin that he has committed act as moral catalysts that institute contrition in Whitfields heart: By
this token shall I cleanse my soul and gain again the fold of Thy undying love (178). Whitfields
realization of the magnitude of his sin is how he justifies his sudden compulsion to repent.
Addie uses her interpretation of sin to justify her preferential view of Jewel in
comparison to her other children. The reader comes to see that while Addie is expected to
perceive her children as comforts, she actually views most of them as negative intrusions in her
life: My aloneness had been violated (172). Addie believes that by living her daily life with
these intrusions, she has made amends for her preferential view of Jewel: My daily life is an
acknowledgement and expiation of my sin (167). However, Addie is also burdened with the sin
of the lack of Jewels love. Addies vision of Jewel as her salvation is coupled with the burden of
knowing that he does not love her: He is my cross and will be my salvation (168). Although,
later in the novel, Addie criticizes the concept of sin as simply being a construct to rationalize
feelings, her complex feelings toward her misdeed constitute her notions of what is right and
wrong. Addies interpretation of her own sins serves as her justification of viewing Jewel as her
salvation even though he does not love her.
Finally, the way that Cora defines sin is how she justifies her criticism of Addie. As Addie
justifies her sins through her own moral relativistic values, Cora believes that only God should
formulate the definition of sin: Who are you, to say what is sin and what is not sin (167).
Coras strict religious interpretation of sin leads her to not only disapprove of but also criticize
Addies lifestyle: But youd think from the way she talked that she knew more about sin and
salvation than the Lord God Himself (167). Coras religious understanding of sin is how she
justifies her criticism of Addie.
Sin is used in As I Lay Dying as a tool that several characters use to justify their own
actions and beliefs. Whitfield uses his sin to justify and explain his newfound contrition for his
misdeeds. Addie interprets sin in a way that rationalizes her preferential treatment of Jewel.
Finally, Coras religious understanding of sin is how she justifies her disapproval of Addies
relations.