William Faulkner' s modernist dismissal of surface appearances in favor of deeper psychological realities-"the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself'-forms a clear link with the Freudian personality construct. After exploring this "Freudian connection," this essay discusses Faulkner's fictional mothers-especially the powerful mother Addie Bundren in the nove! As I Lay Dying. lt shows that through the text she "speaks," this woman not only creates her own personality, but actually forms a decisive factor in the creation of the personalities of her children. The essay also includes a few observations on Faulkner' s relationship with his own mother.