Religion is in many ways mocked by As I Lay Dying. The story is an ironic twist of the classic quest – a journey without a purpose, confession without redemption. Divine justice is never just, as immoral men are rewarded with good luck while struggling devotees are destroyed with bad. The central religious figure of the novel – a minister – is a hypocritical adulterer who illegitimately fathers a son while preaching chastity and morality.
Questions About Religion
- What is the significance of Christianity and faith in this novel?
- Which characters are particularly religious? Which characters reference God or Christianity? Are they the better for it, or worse off because of their faith?
- What does the novel suggest about Faulkner’s view on religion?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In As I Lay Dying, women possess sincere religious beliefs, while men are hypocritical in their faith.