“As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner (post 13): The multiple-narrator structure reflects how Faulkner’s alternate personalities were organized

Some readers of this novel are in awe of how brilliantly Faulkner juggled fifteen narrators. Other equally intelligent readers are driven up a wall.

My opinion is that he wrote it this way because it came natural to him. It was a reflection of how his alternate personalities were organized.

But if it was just a reflection of his multiple personality, and most fiction writers have multiple personality, why aren’t all novels like this? Two reasons.

First, there are narrative fashions and degrees of permissiveness that vary with the era and culture.

Second, different people with multiple personality have different systems of personalities. The most obvious difference is that some multiples (people with multiple personality) have many personalities (dozens to thousands), while others have two to twelve. Some multiples have a few powerful personalities, while others have many different realms, each with its own organization. In short, each multiple’s system of personalities is unique.

People play the hand they were dealt. (Some play it better than others.)