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Contrasting Views of Christians

God plays a large role in the lives of the characters in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. After all, the characters constantly question how God is omnipotent and how the way they act in the secular world directly influences their afterlives. The idea of God especially plays a large role in the lives of the Tulls, the neighbors of the Bundrens. Both Vernon and Cora Tull believe in God himself, but they differ in their views of his nature. While Vernon believes that God works in ways that can be frustrating to man, Cora puts all her faith in God and fully embraces God’s work and her “Christian” duty. These differing views become apparent as the Vernons aid the Bundrens after the death of Addie. On the surface, Cora seems to be a caring, compassionate neighbor; she constantly visits the Bundrens and offers them aid during a family tragedy. Yet as the reader learns more about Cora, the reader realizes that her “good-nature” is actually superficial. Beneath the graceful Christian layer lies a selfish and judgmental woman. Rather than truly caring about the well-being of the Bundren family, Cora acts kindly so that she can have salvation after her own death. This is demonstrated as she repeatedly sings, “I’m bounding toward my God and my reward” (93). Additionally, Cora is extremely judgmental towards the Bundren family. She notes how the Bundren tragedy is “a judgment on Anse Bundren” and states, “May it show him the path of sin he is a-trodding” (72). Cora uses Addie’s death to criticize those who are less fortunate than herself, and she believes that she is morally superior. In contrast, Vernon is subtle in his actions and demonstrates true compassion towards the Bundrens. While the other country people look down upon Anse, Vernon notes, “The only burden Anse Bundren’s ever had is himself…when folks talks him low, I think to myself he aint that less of a man or he couldn’t a bore himself this long” (73). Vernon views Anse as an equal, and believes that Anse’s suffering is a result of misfortune and not poor morality. Faulkner indirectly presents two “types” of Christians: those who actively display their faith but may not always have pure intentions, and those who are passive about their faith but demonstrate true compassion.   

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