In life, parents have a profound influence on the development of their children. Children look to their parents for guidance and support, for love and attention, and parents become the primary sculptors of the personalities of their children. In As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, Addie Bundren, although a minor character in the book, is the primary influence in the development of her children and their personality traits because of her absence as a mother to her children.

Addie's first child by her husband, Anse Bundren, is Cash. Cash is a skillful carpenter, who eventually constructs his mother's coffin when she is on her deathbed. While constructing the coffin, Cash is methodical and precise. He makes sure that his mother's coffin is as close to perfect as he can manage. As a result he is enthralled in his work. Cash is also portrayed as selfless and patient...