As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (1930)Why is this scene relevant to the meaning of the work as a whole? The river crossing scene reveals to the reader yet another intense hardship in the Bundrens' journey.The river washing the coffin away shows the family's struggle to fufill their promise to Addie.The coffin is badly damaged and waterlogged by the time the Bundrens' pull it out of the river.The river crossing also shows the futility of the situation and the suffering everybody is forced to endure as a result of the journey such as Cash reinjuring his leg and the entire team of mules drowning. How does this scene develop the character? The scene shows the family in its panic to rescue Addie's coffin with several points of view.Cash solidifies his reputation as a precise and meticulous individual when he comments that he tells everybody that the coffin was imbalanced.Darl becomes more meloncholy about the trip when he reveals his fears about crossing the river. Archetypal symbols of the scene The Quest:The main archetype is the quest or journey,Addie asks her family to travel across the state to Jefferson to bury her near her relatives.The trip is seen as a family's devotion and love for their mother when really it is simply to get false teeth in Anse's case. Water:The river symbolizes not only rebirth but also cleansing.The river washing away Addie's coffin shows how even nature conspires against the Bundrens' in their quest.Water is shown to opposite of its nature because the river drowns the mules and injures Cash yet again. Christ Figure:Cash is representation of a Christ figure because of the injury he sustained on the chruch and his selflessness.Cash doesn't complain or isn't angered at all when he breaks his leg yet another time during the crossing

Important details, imagery, or poetic devices The scene also reveals the animosity towards the Bundrens from the Tulls.Cora in her religious fanaticism believes that the crossing's failure was caused by divine intervention and that they deserved it due to Addie's "vain and overly proud nature". Interesting syntactical choices The Bundrens' narration is frantic and swift because they have little time to reflect on their words or thoughts as they chase after the coffin downriver.The Tulls on the other hand speak calmly and more reserved.However their tones are much more condescending because Cora speaks as if the Bundrens are poor disobedient children who have shunned God and are suffering because of it.