Multiple Perspectives: The novel presents the events from multiple perspectives, showcasing the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of various family members and associates of Addie Bundren. This multi-perspective approach reflects the modernist preoccupation with subjectivity and individual perception of reality.
Fragmented Structure: The narrative structure of the novel is fragmented, reflecting the disjointed nature of the characters' lives and their struggles with grief, loss, and moral dilemmas. This fragmentation challenges the conventional linear storytelling.
Interior Monologues: The interior monologues of the characters reveal their inner thoughts and psychological states, providing insights into their motivations and complexities. These monologues unveil the characters' innermost struggles and desires.
Emphasis on Language and Symbolism: Faulkner's use of language is highly poetic, rich in symbolism and imagery. The novel explores the ways language can both illuminate and obscure reality, reflecting the modernist preoccupation with the limitations and possibilities of language.
Exploration of Existential Themes: As I Lay Dying delves into profound existential themes such as life, death, morality, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity. These themes are explored in a complex and nuanced manner, mirroring modernist literature's focus on human existence.
Blurring of Reality and Subjectivity: The novel challenges traditional notions of objective reality by presenting events through the subjective lens of the characters. This blurring of the line between reality and individual perception aligns with modernist sensibilities.
Social and Psychological Realism: Faulkner's portrayal of the Bundren family and their rural Southern setting presents a realistic depiction of the social and psychological dynamics that shape their lives. This realism resonates with modernist literature's focus on representing human experiences authentically.
By employing these modernist techniques, As I Lay Dying offers a nuanced exploration of complex human experiences and existential themes, embodying many traits characteristic of modernist literature.