Here's how Faulkner utilizes this technique:
* Multiple Narratives: The story unfolds through the inner monologues of fifteen different characters, including Addie Bundren (the dying mother), her husband Anse, their children Cash, Darl, Jewel, Dewey Dell, Vardaman, and even the local storekeeper, Vernon Tull.
* Shifting Perspectives: Faulkner jumps between characters, often abruptly, forcing the reader to piece together the story from fragmented and often contradictory viewpoints.
* Internal Monologue: The reader is privy to the most intimate thoughts and emotions of each character. We see their struggles, fears, desires, and often contradictory motivations. For example, Darl's poetic and insightful stream of consciousness contrasts sharply with Anse's pragmatic and self-centered thoughts.
* The Objective Correlative: Faulkner utilizes the physical world around the characters to reflect their internal states. For example, the harshness of the Mississippi heat mirrors the characters' emotional struggles.
This approach creates a multi-layered and complex understanding of the events:
* Unreliable Narrators: The characters' perspectives are often subjective and unreliable, creating ambiguity and inviting the reader to question the truth of the events.
* The Death of Addie: Each character experiences Addie's death in their own unique way, highlighting the subjective nature of grief and loss.
* The Journey: The journey to bury Addie becomes a metaphor for each character's individual journey, as they grapple with their own personal struggles and desires.
Faulkner's technique:
* Stylistic Experimentation: He uses various literary devices like unconventional syntax, fragmented sentences, and interior monologue to create a realistic and immersive reading experience.
* Modernist Influence: His approach to storytelling aligns with the principles of Modernism, which challenged traditional narrative forms and explored the subjective nature of reality.
By using multiple perspectives, Faulkner forces the reader to actively engage with the text, piecing together the story and forming their own interpretation. This creates a novel that is not only about the Bundren family's journey but also about the complexities of human experience itself.