As the title of As I Lay Dying imparts, Faulkner sets this 1930 novel against the backdrop of classical epic narratives--to be specific, that of The Odyssey. And we have discussed many ramifications and nuanced aspects of characters and their actions in this novel.
Now, let's shift gears. Have you noticed how often characters such as Anse, Cora, and Whitfield, among others, quote the Bible and refer to God? Yes, there is definitely an underlying theme of Christian salvation. In this light, it is natural that Whitfield—the local minister who sinned against his God and congregation—craves for a divine signal of forgiveness.
Furthermore, it may be even predictable that Anse who often resorts to quoting the Bible will get his own redemption. Why don’t you write about your opinion on the original sin, expulsion from “Eden,” personal suffering and sacrifice, the pursuit of the Holy Grail, and eventual redemption of the Bundrens?