Communication, the realm of action and words in AS I LAY DYING

A detailed Summary of Communication, the realm of action and words in AS I LAY DYING

The essence of existing with the people who surround you is communication, the idea of expressing yourself. If you do not express yourself to others, how can they understand? If you do not express your feelings to yourself, how can you understand? If you cannot understand, how will you progress in life? You must ask yourself these questions and begin to comprehend that communication consists of two elements, the realm of action and the realm of words. Existing in exclusively one of these realms is not beneficial to you or the people around you, and it will be the downfall of your being. Any one of us can sit there and create "small talk" and simple actions. But, it is the person who feels what they are saying and doing who will get ahead in this world. In the novel As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, we see that words and actions need to go hand in hand in order for communication to progress and be beneficial.

To begin with, the character of Jewel provides for an excellent example of why one cannot live exclusively in the realm of actions. Through Jewel's short temper, aggressive behavior and use of foul language, he proves to us that he lacks the ability to express himself through words. Not once throughout the novel

Thus, words can never replace the realm of action and actions can never replace the realm of words. Nevertheless, people such as Jewel and Darl exist today, exist among us, and exist within us. They tip the scale on our goal for balance for staying in both realms. In addition, there is a penalty to pay if you dwell in a single realm and lack the essence of communicating completely, not just in one dimension. It is the people like Cash who set the example of not only how one can change for the better, but also how one can be complete within themselves, by themselves, and for themselves. We can learn from Cash, Jewel, and Darl that communication is the one thing that lets us express ourselves properly and be able to interact with the world around us.

did we see Jewel communicate to Addie through words. This "bastard child" took after his mother in believing as Addie said, "...words don't ever fit even what they are trying to say at..."(171). Thus, he never used words with Addie. Instead, his love for her was expressed when Jewel saved his mother "from the water and from the fire"(168). If he had not taken actions such as his courageous rescues, how would we have known the love Jewel had felt for Addie? There would have been no way to distinguish it. And that is where the fault lies in Jewel. The entire essence of Jewel is the actions that he takes during the book, besides an abundance of cursing whenever he opened his mouth, nothing more than small talk is spoken. Jewel had a strong character and he also possessed the intelligence to express him self not only through actions, but also by words as well. By not expressing his feelings through words, he merely held himself back from the greater things that he could accomplish. For instance, all of his other four siblings could have used his guidance. Each brother and sister could have benefited from the aid of Jewel, no matter how small it might have been. I believe that what his siblings, including himself, really needed was for someone to sit down with them and help them to sort out their feelings. Whether they were feelings of remorse, confusion or if they simply needed to express themselves to someone - anyone. I think that one reason why Jewel never spoke much was because "the reason you will not say it is, when you say it, even to yourself, you will know it is true"(40). Jewel knew that if he expressed how much he loved his mother, he might actually begin to grieve and feel remorse for her. This in turn would break down his tough exterior, which he had built for himself and displayed to everyone around him. He covered up his emotions and feelings in his words wit

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Approximate Word count = 1791
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels