Since its original publication in 1930, William Faulkner's novel As I Lay has sparked much exploration and criticism. Although this analysis is very in-depth and broad in terms of subject matter, an interesting line of investigation is the novel's connection to the Old Testament. You don't have to be a Christian to study the thematic similarities; there are many, many occurrences of biblical topics and correlations, these having been studied by students and scholars alike. The Old Testament is commonly known as the most historical part of the Bible; it establishes the basic knowledge of the New Testament and gives readers a sense of the nature of the times. Many general themes of the Old Testament are reflected in the Bible as a whole, as well as in each book having its own plot and theme. Such Old Testament themes as original sin and ideas corresponding to that of the Book of Job can be found inherently in As I Lay Dying. The idea of ​​original sin comes from the Book of Genesis, when the first humans, Adam and Eve, ate the fruit of the tree that God had told them not to eat. Since these first two humans erred in their ways, God then made all humans to be in His image, an image of sin and fallibility. From the Genesis Boom: “Then the Lord God said, ‘Now these human beings have become like one of us and know what is good and what is evil’” (B-5). The theme of sin rests on this fact; humans make conscious decisions to do evil. Other themes of a moral nature may follow within the main ideas discussed in Genesis, such as guilt, sexuality and tension between the sexes (Rule). In As I Lay Dying, Anse and Addie's original sin seems to give way to the sin of their children, much like that of...... middle of paper ......the progression of religious views n was not observed. documented. One can very easily argue that religious views are present, regardless of Faulkner's motivation. Religious themes are universal and can be appreciated and understood by everyone. Overall, Faulkner's use of biblical themes and plots such as original sin and the Book of Job emphasize the novel's main themes: family relationships, love, sin, guilt, and actions. against the words. Much like religion in general, the significance of religious themes in the novel can be debated but are inherently present. Works Cited Faulkner, William. As I was dying. New York: Vintage Books, October 1990. Rule, Phillip C. "Old Testament Themes in As I Lay Dying." Readings on William Faulkner. Ed. C. Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1998. Good News Bible. New York: American Bible Society, 1992.