윌리엄 포크너의 『내 누워 죽어갈 때』의 노동 가치

Abstract

In As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner articulated inevitable ramifications of Southern agricultural society's transition into industrial stage, with specific focus on changing patterns of labor. Labor is an essential part of human life, but through drastic and fast social and economic change, one of the significant side-effects of early industrial structure, so called "Alienation" of Karl Marx appears to be prevalent in every layer of labor. Labor, according to Marx, is basically external to workers, which causes those workers not to receive appropriate material and spiritual rewards for their labor. In As I Lay Dying Faulkner recreated similar economic and social backgrounds to the time when Marx considered and targeted to create his theory "Alienation". Addie Bundren, a main heroin of As I Lay Dying, lies dying in her bed and her imminent death and death will equally work as motivations for all the remaining family's labor. As representative Southern laborers, every family member experiences Marxian alienation from their long and troublesome journey to Jefferson to fulfill Addie's death will. Through Addie's most beloved son, Jewel, Faulkner clarifies his authorial intentions for the possible ways to actualize the capitalistic and humanitarian values of labor. As Faulkner's hero in As I Lay Dying, Jewel throws himself body and soul into his work all the way to Jefferson to eventually overcome alienation.