As I Lay Dying is a story full of characters who believe they are heroes. In their inner monologues, each of them believes that they are better than the others and that their goals are the most important. The characters can be seen as dignified and absurd depending on the situation they are in and who is judging them. I hope to prove that the characters are in some ways heroic on their quest to bury Addie in Jefferson, but at other times can be seen as selfish. One obvious example of heroism in As I Lay Dying is the Bundrens’ perseverance through injuries and hardships to fulfill Addie’s dying wish. Vardaman and Darl are the closest to heroes, although Darl eventually goes crazy and Vardaman is an unreliable narrator because of his age. Regardless, Darl constantly tries to fulfill Addie’s wish of being buried in Jefferson, helps Cash when he is injured, and even keeps Dewey Dell’s pregnancy a secret. Vardaman is willing to do anything to get his mother to Jefferson. Even though h...