Hero's Journey In As I Lay Dying
I believe that William Faulkner's non-linear storytelling from the perspective of multiple characters in As I Lay Dying does still fit a framework where the Hero’s Journey is applicable. However, there are some key differences in the way that it is applied. For one, there is the question of who the actual hero is. We never get a clear answer to this, and at times the family unit as a whole could be pictured as the hero. Furthermore, this new form of storytelling changes how each character's personal struggles are interpreted. It could also be argued that each character’s development through these struggles and their ultimate boon is hindered by this format. Indeed, although the overall family unit does end up achieving its goal, many of the personal goals are not achieved. So while Faulkner's story can still be read as a hero’s journey, all of these aspects make it far from traditional, and indeed change how the novel is interpreted significantly. If we look at the goal th...