Vardaman 249-252 Kristin Giffuni

Vardaman Pages 249-252

“But she said he would not sell it to the town boys. “But it will be there Christmas,” Dewey Dell says. “You’ll have to wait till then, when he brings it back.”
Page 250

I chose this quote because it represents the different paths that the members of the Bundren family have taken since Addie’s death. The quick, ‘attention deficit disorder’ style that Faulkner has employed here firmly cements that, most notably, Vardaman, Dewey Dell and Pa have already begun a grief-free life after Addie. About Varadaman’s character this proves his simple-minded innocence, just as Dewey Dell plays that role of the negative role model. Vardaman’s fixation on the train, however, is also symbolic of the fact that he is lost and without direction- forced to change his emotional pain into a physical and physiological need for the truck, which on some subconscious level I believe he feels he needs in order to replace Addie.



I connected this “Vardaman segment” with the little boy Ralpie from “A Christmas Story.” All each little boy wants is a specific gift and neither feels complete without it. In the movie Ralphie is absentmindedly reassured that “[he‘ll] shoot [his] eye out” just as Vardaman is absentmindedly reassure by Dewey-Dell that “it will be there Christmas.” Neither boy is really heard out or understood- thus intensifying their longing and desire for something that is representative of a larger feeling that they are too juvenile to comprehend or explain.

Tull 137-140 Kristin Giffuni

Tull Pages 137-140

“He was standing there, humped, mournful, looking at the empty road beyond the swagging and swaying bridge. And that gal, too, with the lunch basket on one arm and that package under the other. Just going to town. Bent on it. They would risk the fire and the earth and the water and all just to eat a sack of bananas. … “I gave my promise,” [Anse] says. “She is counting on it.””

Here, Faulkner primarily uses wildly changing syntax in order to show the scattered motives that holds each member of the Bundren family. They are portrayed as irrational- Anse especially. His constant repetition has gone from giving the appearance of self-reassurance to a hardly believable excuse to go to Jefferson and leave his life temporarily behind- it also dehumanizes Addie and takes away from the importance of her death.


http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/PFO4810.jpg

I found this picture both oddly literal yet perfectly descriptive of how the Bundrens- in particular Anse and Dewey Dell- look to the outside world. They both feign childish innocence and innocent ignorance in an attempt to gain what they are truly after through deceit. I also find that the blurred background emphasizes the child- analogous to the way that Dewey Dell and Anse put themselves in the foreground of whatever situation they are in, making everything else around them diminish in importance.

Dewey Dell Pg 255-257

“It’s not mine, I can’t”

This phrase was repeated throughout the chapter. Basically the only conversation between Anse and Dewey Dell consisted of Anse asking where she got the money, and Dewey Dell replying that it isn’t his to take. Both characters are very stubborn and unwilling to even listen to what the other person is saying. Anse is going to take the money no matter what Dewey Dell says (just like he took the money from his family to buy the mules). Furthermore, Dewey Dell is going to continue to hopelessly plead with her father even though she knows that she has no power over his decision. This results in the two page stagnant argument. Another interesting idea that may be alluded to through this quote was the reference to Dewey Dell’s pregnancy. Since the money that Anse wanted was for Dewey Dell’s abortion, the words “it’s not mine” can also refer to her baby. Not once throughout the novel, does Dewey Dell acknowledge the baby inside of her. It seems more like an object—something that she wants to sell desperately. This is similar to Addie’s corpse that was lugged around for the majority of the novel. The corpse was the luggage/burden the Bundren family carried with them just like the baby was the burden that Dewey Dell secretly carried with her.



Dewey Dell is two-faced. She speaks about God when she is pleading with her father to not “steal” her money. She also plays the victim by making her father seem like the thief. However, Dewey Dell fails to reveal to anyone directly that she is pregnant. It is ironic that ties in religion and morals when she is secretly obtaining an abortion. Whether having an abortion should be illegal or not is irrelevant. This comic reflects how a character is two-faced. The character speaks against abortion, and then has an abortion herself. Dewey Dell practically preaches how great she is, yet she has this second life that her family (excluding Darl) doesn’t know of.

Vardaman Pg150-151

“You never got her. You knew she is a fish but you let her get away. You never got her. Darl. Darl. Darl.”

Vardaman is arguable the saddest character in the book. He is young enough to not completely understand the gravity of death, but old enough to know that his mother is not there anymore. Vardaman returns to his obsession with the idea that his mom is a fish. Throughout the novel, the personification of a dead cut up fish as his mom serves as his outlet to grief. This extended metaphor can be furthermore analyzed to signify the Bundren’s hopeless struggle for acceptance. They are isolated from society by the corpse’s stench as they strive to bury Addie. However, even when Addie is buried, there is emptiness—nothing has changed. When Vardaman blames Darl when he says “you let her get away”, he can be referring to his happiness. He has been forced to deal with things past his maturity (like watching Darl set the barn on fire) and only wants his family to be united. Although Addie was a heartless lady, Vardaman associates her with happiness; it is what has been missing in his life ever since her death. In addition, the repetition of Darl shows that Darl is the closest person to Vardaman. Therefore, it makes sense for Vardaman to blame Darl for his pain and the loss of his mom. Finally, the repetition of “you never got her” shows Vardaman’s immaturity. He doesn’t understand that Addie was never attainable; you can’t bring back the dead.



^^The original picture had a city in the background.

Because Vardaman compares his mom to a fish, he can also be seen as a fish. A fish is contained in a fish tank. First, because glass has a different diffraction gradient than air, the world is seen to be different, at a different angle. This is shown through the inverse reflection of the city through the glass. Vardaman is unable to fully understand what death means and that his mother is never coming back. Second, the picture shows a small fish with a city in the background. Vardaman is small and young compared to the rest of his family. His ignorance is something that isolates him and prevents him for achieving happiness. Furthermore, Addie is contained in a casket like Vardaman is contained by his maturity.

Vardaman Journal Entry

I came home today and I was really hungry and I wanted food and there was no food in the cabinet and I saw Dad and I called him dad im hungry dad do you have any food and my mother is a fish. I’m hungry and my mother is a fish. My mother is a fish and shes my mother but I’m not a fish but my mother is a fish and I’m hungry. The cabinet was empty and dad didn’t hear me so I went to the river and caught a fish which wasn’t my mother but my mother is a fish. Then darl said come off of that log. Darl is my brother. Darl says my mother is a fish and darl is my brother.

Cash, 165

“It wasn’t on a balance. I told them that if they wanted it to tote and ride on a balance, they would have to”

Cash, fixated on the coffin and its movement, attempts to explain to the family how it should be balanced. This spurt of words, however short, lends itself to several literary devices. The repetition of the word “balance” shows Cash’s fixation on the coffin and how it should be transported best. The fact that the final sentence lacks finishing punctuation leaves the postulation that he is making open, as if Cash was going to keep talking, but rather than include it in the work, the sentence was simply left open.

Cash is reminiscent of Rain Man. He seems to almost be a savant in the way he fixates on his carpentry as much as Dustin Hoffman fixates on his various “ticks”, like refusing to fly on any airline but Quantus. Also, the way Cash repeats himself over and again about the balance of the coffin is suggestive of Hoffman’s character and his repetitions of “Abbot and Costello” and etcetera.

Darl pgs 218 - 222

“Then it topples forward, gaining momentum, revealing Jewel and the sparks raining on him too in engendering gusts, so that he appears to be enclosed in a thin nimbus of fire.” (pg. 222)





This quote describes what Darl sees when Jewel rescues the coffin from the burning barn. The tone of this passage is jealous. Darl’s purpose in burning the barn was to destroy his mothers’ body, but Jewel saved the day again, and ruined Darl’s plan. For someone who despises Jewel, he is very calm when describing Jewel’s victory. This passage also emphasizes how Addie believed that Jewel was a saint and how Darl is still envious. He describes Jewel as “enclosed in a nimbus of fire.” A nimbus is a cloud surrounding a supernatural being or saint. It is a little ironic that the nimbus is made of fire because fire represents the devil. Darl is implying that Jewel’s outward appearance is saintly, but in reality he is the devil.

Darl reminds me of the character Katherine from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Katherine is jealous of her sister Bianca, but instead of showing her jealousy through words, she shows it through actions. She is constantly throwing temper tantrums to gain attention. This is similar to Darl and Jewel. Darl tries to do everything in his power to become the favorite, but he ultimately fails.

MacGowan (pg. 241-248)

“The one that put the acorn in your belly? …You’ve had the same operation before. Ever hear about the hair of the dog?” (pg. 243 & 247)

This quote indicates that the girl who visited the doctor’s office was indeed Dewey Dell who was looking to obtain an abortion. The metaphor of the acorn is used in reference to the baby she has in her stomach. However, in this narrative MacGowan conveys his characteristics of being an individual who is deceiving and selfish. MacGowan’s deceiving acts began when he pretended to be the doctor at the Jefferson’s drugstore. From this perspective it had been indirectly implied that in return for the abortion, Dewey Dell must give something in return (sex). This is revealed when MacGowan says “you’ve had the same operation before” which was between her and Lafe. Moreover, the old saying “the hair of the dog” is usually referred to having another drink in order to “cure” a hangover. However, in this text it is applied to doing the same act she had done with Lafe to MacGowan as a payment for the abortion. Lastly, MacGowan’s selfishness is indicated through the line “it was my night now” to show that he is getting what he desired.

I chose to have a picture of the cellar stairs because it exemplifies the stairs that are leading Dewey Dell to commit a sin in order to get what she wants. Moreover, this perfectly coincides with MacGowan’s description of the cellar: “The trouble about the cellar is, it aint but one way out and that’s back up the inside stairs.” This exposes how there is no other option for Dewey Dell due to the trap set by the cellar. The picture of the clocks represent MacGowan’s precision of time. Throughout his perspective he had been mentioning the time to exemplify his fear of getting caught. This is shown through his awareness of time before his boss comes and fires him for being with a patient. Moreover, it is also mentioned about Dewey Dell’s arrival in which he was in fear of having others know what he is doing. This also puts emphasis on her abortion by revealing how each occasion has its own time and by being late has its own consequences.

Darl (pg.128-136)

“And then I knew that I knew. I knew that as plain on that day as I knew about Dewey Dell on that day.” (pg. 136)

In this quote the repetition of “I knew” and “on that day” exemplifies how Darl is the one to notice people’s acts of deception. In this chapter, Darl was reminiscing about Jewel’s act of deceit and how this act had caused Addie to deceive others to cover up for her son. This concept of dishonesty is repeated because Darl had been unable to accept the mere fact that his mother had been covering up for Jewel while she had taught her kids that this act is morally wrong and “nothing else could be very bad or important, not even poverty (pg.130).” Moreover, this quote signifies Darl’s knowledge about Jewel being the illegitimate son and compares it to Dewey Dell’s secret of her pregnancy. It is evident that Jewel is the illegitimate son when Darl says “And I knew that she was hating herself for that deceit and hating Jewel because she had to love him so that she had to act the deceit (pg.130-31).” In essence, if Jewel was legitimate she wouldn’t “have” to love him and therefore, her act of covering up for Jewel’s work exemplifies how she also tries to hide her act of deception that caused Jewel to be illegitimate. Therefore, Darl builds this tension between him and Jewel because he knows about this treachery and despises the fact that Jewel receives more attention from Addie than he. In comparison, to King Lear by William Shakespeare, Edmund – the illegitimate son is jealous of the legitimate son – Edgar. Although the roles are switched in As I Lay Dying, both literary works convey the concept of deception to be the trigger of the tension between one and another. Lastly, this quote is connected to Darl’s knowledge of the unknown. This is evident because Darl makes a reference to Dewey Dell’s unmoral secret that nobody knows about and connects it to Addie’s secret about Jewel that hasn’t been revealed.

Lyrics for “Nothing Left” by As I Lay Dying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOLgBgnnUUE (<---music video)
This world was never worthy
But how can I call it unfaithful
Every promise was fulfilled
As decay crawled from it's throat
Like the dead rising from an open grave
Lips of splendor and tongue of deceit
All dying now as our fragile wrists hold only waste
Like those gasping for their last breath
We cannot hide there's nothing left
If All my sorrow has led me here
Then I would cry all of my tears
To have this chance again
And know there's more than this
And know there's more than you
Like those gasping for their last breath
We cannot hide there's nothing left

I chose this song because it is about a woman who is trying to hide the truth about her infection. By exposing herself to the world she had put her life in danger by being executed. Moreover, it illustrates how sinners face the consequences to their actions. In relation to the text, Addie has kept her secret about Jewel’s illegitimacy (her sin) in which she hadn’t revealed and passed away leaving the truth to be unknown. Furthermore, the lyrics expose how after Addie had passed, Darl seems to have “nothing left.” In addition it can be connected to both Dewey Dell’s and Addie’s acts of deception that cannot be hidden from Darl, who perceives the unknown within his family. Lastly, in the song it mentions the “tongue of deceit” for those individuals who haven’t confessed their sickness and mislead people into believing they don’t have an infection. Darl, however, finds out about the dishonesty occurring without any words from Addie and Dewey Dell’s “tongue’s of deceit.”

Tull pg 123-127

“ “Vernon can help them,” Jewel says, “And we can hitch his mule ahead of ourn.”
“You ain’t going to take my mule into that water,” I say. ”
Explanation: This quote is a good display of Tull’s relationship with the Bundren family. This suggestion by Jewel is said directly after he yells at Tull to “get to hell on back to your damn plowing!” for trying to assist them in a sensible way to cross the collapsed bridge. Jewel, Darl, Anse and Dewey Dell show contempt for Tull’s rational and guiding presence at the scene, clearly not wanting the voice of reason to ruin their unrealistic hopes. Tull’s mule is symbolic of the assistance he so generously offers the family, and the dangerous waters are representative of the limits of his charity. He offers all that he can advice-wise while the distressed, mildly ungrateful family disregards his wisdom, but will not go as far as sacrifice something as significant as his mule to help the family by exposing it to such a harsh and potentially dangerous element of their endeavors. This shows he will offer his good intentions to an extent, but not to one where he is being taken advantage of without redemption or thanks.
Lyrics:
“What you want, baby I got it
What you need? ‘Cause you know I got it
All I’m asking is for a little respect...
R-E-S-P-E-C-T,
Find out what it means to me”
Like timeless soul sensation Aretha Franklin, all Tull wants is a little respect! He is always doing little favors for the Bundrens, supplying them with work, and trying to help steer them on the right track. In return, they tend to question his generally good advice or straight-up disrespect his efforts; in the case of crossing the bridge, they are even outwardly rude to him. Perhaps he would be more willing to lend his metaphorical “mule” into their metaphorical “waters” if doing such a thing would yield a more significant helping of R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

http://earsucker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/aretha_franklin.jpg

Cash~232-238

“It’s like some folks has the smooth, pretty boards to build a courthouse with and others don’t have no more than rough lumber fitten to build a chicken coop.  But it’s better to build a tight chicken coop than a shoddy courthouse, and when they both build shoddy or build well, neither because it’s one or tother is going to make a man feel the better nor the worse”( Faulkner234).

In this quote, Faulkner uses a simile appropriate for the narrator, Cash.  Because Cash is a carpenter using a comparison dealing with construction serves as characterization and highlights his obsession with carpentry.

In addition, this quote is basically preaching that a man should take what he has and make the best of it. Cash is explaining that Darl, born with “rough lumber,” should have built “a tight chicken coop” if he wanted to be happy.  Because of this, the reader understands that conversely, Darl is unhappy and quite messed up because he spent his life resenting the fact that he hadn’t been born with “smooth, pretty boards” and an opportunity to build a courthouse instead.

Image:

The picture below exemplifies Darl’s problem.  He felt burdened by the task Addie asked of the family and maybe irritated by her incompetence as a mother, so he attempted to dispose of her simply and quickly by burning her in a fire. Though he might have been annoyed, this certainly was not the right decision, as it destroyed a man’s house and put animals and Jewel at risk.  Life gave Darl lemons, and instead of making lemonade, he set a house on fire wanting to cremate his undying dead mom. 

Cora Journal Entry

Dear Jesus,
I once thought Addie shared my love for you. However, I learned her cares are elsewhere. She told me that brat of hers, Jewel is her “cross”. How dare she say such a devilish thing? No wonder their children are so misbehaved. And that husband of hers! I see You are cursing them and I thank You. I can now live without feeling in her shadow. I always knew that I was Your favorite. Now I can bake my amazing pies in peace with no doubt that I am Your greatest companion. I mean I tried telling her that You are the only thing that matters and it is the Lord’s part to judge, but she wouldn’t listen. She went on how it’s her place to judge her sin. Was she so blind that she couldn’t see what’s right for her? If she had been aware, she could have just looked at me. I have opened my heart to you and you have seen my commitment to you and have rewarded me. I don’t understand these feelings I feel. I mean, I thought I would be glad that that woman is gone. She didn’t have the dedication to You as she should have, as I do. However, she was my only friend. We had so many differences and yet, we spent time together. I realize we didn’t like each other, but for some reason, I miss her company. Please explain this to me Lord. Is this Your way of telling me to forgive her? Should I remember in the good light and forgive her as You would? I prayed for that poor blind woman as I had never prayed for me and mine.

Cora