1. Stream of Consciousness: Faulkner uses multiple perspectives throughout the novel, and Addie's voice is revealed through the memories and thoughts of others. This indirect approach allows us to glimpse Addie's personality through the filter of her loved ones' perceptions. We see her through the eyes of her children, Anse, and even the town's gossip.
2. Contrasting Voices: The way different characters perceive and portray Addie reveals her multifaceted nature. Some characters, like Cash, admire her strength and love, while others, like Dewey Dell, struggle to understand her. This contrasting view allows the reader to form their own nuanced understanding of Addie.
3. The "Addie" Chapter: One of the most powerful techniques is the dedicated chapter written entirely in Addie's voice. This direct monologue reveals her inner world: her love for Cash, her frustrations with Anse, her complex relationship with her children, and her profound philosophical musings on life, death, and the human condition.
4. Symbolism: Addie's death becomes a symbolic event that underscores themes of family, love, sacrifice, and the meaning of life. The journey to bury her becomes a metaphor for the struggles and triumphs of human existence.
5. Irony: Faulkner utilizes irony to highlight the tragic irony of Addie's life. She desires a dignified burial in her home county, yet her family's journey is riddled with hardship and loss, ultimately leading to a burial that is far from her aspirations.
6. Imagery: Faulkner uses rich and evocative imagery to portray Addie's physical and emotional state. We see her fading strength, her quiet determination, and the growing distance between herself and the world around her.
7. Time and Memory: Faulkner plays with time and memory in the novel, blurring the lines between past and present. This allows Addie's voice to transcend death and speak to the characters and the reader through her memories and the echoes of her presence.
By employing these literary techniques, Faulkner paints a deeply human and resonant portrait of Addie Bundren. We see her as a complex, contradictory figure, grappling with life, love, and the ultimate inevitability of death. Her voice, though fragmented and filtered through the perspectives of others, becomes a powerful force that resonates long after the novel concludes.