Created By Ben Shefner
And only Ben Shefner
He's the bomb
The bomb-diggity
The novel As I Lay Dying was set in the rural south in the late 1920's. As such, it is hard to understand every reference made in this text, since we do not fully understand the time period. The objective of this site is to help deepen the understanding of this novel by illuminating cultural references and applying historical context that may have been missing in one's initial reading. An interesting example of the lack of knowledge most bring to this novel regards Dewey Dell. Throughout the novel she is seeking a solution to end her pregnancy. What solution is she looking for? How common was the procedure? This is an interesting point of historical controversy that could easily be missed without an understanding of the procedure and its significance in this time period.