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The nobel prize-winning author represented his native south in his novels. His characters show the rise of the south and its decadent fall.

Each member of the Bundren family in Willam Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying is unique and memorable, but the most complex of these characters is the second son.

Darl is sent away by his remaining family to an insane asylum at the end of the book. However, his thoughts and actions during the trip were sane, especially when viewed against those of his family. His omniscient point of view may be eerie to Dewey Dell and Jewel, but in the end Darl understands the true nature of his family.

Darl and Jewel are shown to have a great deal of tension on the journey to bury their mother, Addie, in Jefferson. While each family member has their own selfish reasons to want to reach Jefferson, Jewel is the real driving force behind the trip due to his love of Addie. Darl, on the other hand, slows the trip down in direct opposition of Jewel. His jealousy leads him to transition to an antagonistic figure.

This article focuses on the etymology behind each name in As I Lay Dying. Darl is a darling, but his mother scorns his love, whereas Jewel is the most loved child in the family, even though he has an unkind personality. The names are highly sarcastic

This article talks about the effects that neglect had on a child, Frankenstein's monster. While the monster had body parts of dead humans, he had the mind of a newborn baby, and turned into the monster he became due to the treatment he received from Frankenstein. Unfortunately, child neglect is a very real problem in the world today and can stunt the psychological and moral growth of people.

This article is interesting, as it portrays the book of Frankenstein to be a "hideous progeny", similar to the monster himself. It also talks about other subliminal messages that the novel contains, including the effects of Frankenstein's image of the creation. He originally attempted to make it have gigantic stature to make it better than human beings, but the lack of physical harmony on the creature actually makes it horribly grotesque.

This Frankenstein site, published by the government, covers all of the major societal issues in Frankenstein. This particular article focuses on the Monster's desire to have a mate that can relate to his problems and spend time with him. Frankenstein scorns his creations wish for love, and the result is more destruction to his world.

This source compares Anse and Addie to Adam and Eve, and also explores the ideas that poor parenting leads to poor children behavior. Like Victor, Anse and Addie really don't fulfill the roles of decent father/mother figures. As a result, most of the children go astray (Vardaman is clueless and baffled, Darl starts to lose his grip, Dewey Dell is left pregnant and alone)

This source discusses Jewel's isolation from his family (except his mother). Sort of like Victor's monster with humanity, Jewel knows he does not belong to his family, and as a result fails to get along with most of them. He constantly bickers and curses at his brothers, to the point of hating them, as well as Anse. However, like the monster, the only person whose affection he desires are his creator's, Addie's, which he does absolutely anything to obtain. He wants acceptance and approval from the only person he cares about.

This source discusses the alienation that Dewey Dell goes through as a result of her pregnancy. She loses her innate ability to connect with fellow humans as a result of her dreadful secret (just like Frankenstein) and becomes more and more self absorbed.

This source discusses the isolation Darl undergoes. He originally was one of the few rational thinkers of his family, however, he is rejected and despised as queer and different, and so alienated that he finally is driven to despair and starts losing his grasp. He's been rejected, even by his mother, to the point at which he even considers himself an onlooker and spectator,

This source discusses the role of isolation and alienation in Vardaman's life; he is the innocent, clueless child who is unable to comprehend Addie's death, yet his father and brothers neglect him, and no one helps him understand. He wanders around confused and clueless

Good source which discusses Addie Bunds and the entire theme of isolation; as a mother back in the day, childbirth is really her only appreciable quality. Her entire life, Addie just wants some recognition and companionship; Anse certainly neglects to fulfill the part of a decent husband, so she is left alone to die. Good site for the theme of isolation/alienation, especially by her own children.