We have discussed this, but I would like to get your professional responses. Which child, Darl or Cash, is "Addie's" and not "Anse's"? Explain your answer and defend it with textual evidence.
Some say that Faulkner juxtaposes comedy and tragedy in his novel. Do you agree with this? Explain why or why not.
Jewel was always somewhat introverted and disclosed from his family in a certain way. Pain and bitterness gripped him throughout the novel, and this occurred because Jewel is really Addie's child. Once Addie passed away, negative emotions festered inside of Jewel. It was an effect of their connection being lost through death.
Since Jewel is Addie's child, he carried one of Addie’s traits: an inability to express feeling with words. In Addie's chapter, she shows her disregard for words and says that "words go straight up in a thin line, quick and harmless..." (pg. 173) She expressed herself through actions rather than words; for she was often "tricked by words..." (pg. 172) Even though she did not want to have children, she did anyway since it was "(her) duty to (Anse)..." (pg. 174) She never essentially said how she felt about her situation, and kept her thoughts to herself. Her only outlet was an action, the affair that brought Jewel into the world. That action showed how she felt about Anse and the feelings that she lacked thereof for Anse. In regards to Jewel, he gained his inability with words from Addie. He couldn't and didn't express his feelings with words throughout the book. He only showed emotion through fiery actions like the time when he, Cash, and Darl carried their mother's coffin to the wagon. In a sudden burst of anger, Jewel hurriedly carried the coffin single-handedly, "(stopped) it and (sloughed) it into the wagon bed... (then looked) back... (with a) face (that was) suffused with fury and despair." (pg. 99) Moreover, Jewel did certain actions such as these, to express the pain he felt on the inside.
The connection between Jewel and Addie was further explored when she said that Jewel “(would) save me from the water and from the fire.” (pg.168) Jewel eventually saved Addie’s body from the river and from the burning barn. This showed the ultimate connection between Addie and Jewel that was not present with the other Bundren children.
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Jacora Smart
9/22/2012 01:55:12 pm
Oh no i forgot about Cash! -_- oh well i proved my point i guess. And by the way i believe that Faulkner does juxtapose comedy and tragedy. He does this to reflect the polar ends of human emotions: happiness and sadness. I also think he does this to reflect the character foil between Cash and Jewel.
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Clara Grace
9/30/2012 05:21:30 am
Was Jewel really bitter? I don't believe so. I just think that he had a hard time coping with the fact that everyone had to learn to accept him, that he wasn't just naturally accepted like most family members are. And was their connection truly lost? If Addie and Jewel both share the powers to see beyond what is there, then how could they ever really be separated? I believe that Cash is Addie's other son. Cash shares more qualities with Jewel and Addie, unlike Darl who is more like Anse. Also, Darl is Addie's revenge on Anse.
I do believe that Faulkner places comedy and tragedy next to each other. The first glance image of a family of poor southern people traveling through town with a dead body is comical, in a twisted way. However, when you look deep inside into the family and all their mental vantage points, the novel suddenly becomes woeful. When you see all the complexities and heart aches that each character is going through, it feels as though there is a sorrowful overtone.
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Angela Hatchel
9/22/2012 12:46:28 pm
Okay, Mrs. Hulsey...you said it was supposed to be Cash and Darl so here we go! :)
I believe that Cash is Addie's and Darl is Anse's. The reason for this being so is, I believe Darl is worried about getting the three dollars to go and bury his mother instead of worrying about getting his mother there safely. "We'll need that three dollars then, sure" (pg. 17) This shows the cold-heartedness of our character, Darl. Darl then tells his brother Jewel, "do you know that Addie Bundren is going to die? Addie Bundre is going to die?" (pg. 40) Darl says this out of no emotion. He just simply states this. Usually if a child knows their mother is going to die, they would be emotionally upset about the situation, but this is not the case with Darl.
"You, Cash," she shouts, her [Addie] voice harsh, strong, and unimpaired. "You, Cash!" (pg. 48) This is when Addie is about to die and out of all the children, she calls out for Cash. I think this part shows the connection of Cash really being Addie's child. Also Cash is steadily working at Addie's coffin that he is preparing for her death. "After a while he turns without looking at pa and leaves the room. Then the saw begins to snore again." (pg. 50) Cash also takes the time to position the coffin on the wagon so it will balance correctly. He is the only one doing this process as well. "Cash labors about the trestles, moving back and forth, lifting and placing the planks with long clattering reverberations in the dead air as though he were lifting and dropping them at the bottom of an invisible well..." (pg. 75 & 76)
So in the end, I guess the question is, do we really know if Cash is Anse's or Addie's or if Darl is Anse's or Addie's?
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Zachary Howard
9/30/2012 08:55:37 am
Angela you are right. We will never know who is actually is Anse's? It could be possible that Darl isnt his and its possible that Cash isnt his. I've change from Cash to Darl to none of them is his. I truly believe it could be that Cash isn't Anse's because of the work ethic of Cash compared to Anse's work ethics,which is not much. But on the other hand it could be that Cash is Anse's and Darl isn't.
Yes Mr. Faulker does show a little comedy in this book which have me question the type of guy he was.
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Angela Hatchel
9/23/2012 06:07:37 am
I forgot to answer the last question as well. Sorry! But I do believe that Faulker juxtaposes comedy and tragedy in this novel. I agree with Jacora. I believe as well that it is to show the opposite sides of human emotions: happiness and sadness. For instance, "What is she saying, Darl?" I [Vardaman] say. "Who is she talking to?"
"She's talking to God," Darl says. "She is calling on Him to help her." (pg. 214) This shows the funny side of Faulker. Darl is trying to get his little brother, Vardaman to listen to his "dead" mother talk.
To show the sadness or tragedy, Faulker uses Vardaman as a tool. "You kilt her!" (pg. 55) This appeals to the reader's emotions by creating an upset feeling in them. To read about a young little boy who witnessed the death of their mother is a little upsetting to read.
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Laurel Bell
9/29/2012 12:22:37 am
So my dumb computer would not let me comment under the actual post so I have to comment this way.
This is a reply to Angela's comment. I am with you. How can we actually know who is Addie's other child? Everyone has their own opinion! We could argue until we each turn blue in the face, but that wouldn't solve anything. There is no absolute answer. However after pondering on this question for a while, I came to the conclusion that Cash is Addie's child. There was just indescribable bond between them. Why else would she call only for him, only him, on her death bed? But I'm about to play Devil's Advocate. What if Faulkner didn't actually choose who Addie's other child was himself? I mean he was known for trying to trick his readers. What if he did that to make us slave over the question for hours, arguing to get a good laugh? Sounds like something he would do...
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DaValyee' McGee
10/7/2012 04:41:25 am
I know I'm like SUPER DUPER LATE, but I'm going to post anyway:)! My opinion on this is that I think it can go both ways, so I'm going to start why Cash is Anse's and not Addie's and vice-verse for Darl. In Addie's chapter she eventually opens up how she had an affair with Minister Whitfield and then figured out Jewel was born. We also learn throughout the book how Addie's love toward Jewel was stronger than the rest of her children, mainly because she felt that Jewel was "hers rather than Anse's"(which was technically true~DNA wise)! Another point was how her love for Cash as well was sort of similar to Jewel, especially when she was on her death bed and her last words was for Cash. Also, come to think about it, Jewel traits as well as Cash are alike, they are both very hard workers, and go out there way for Addie throughout this story. We even remember when Darl got his "dirt" about
how Jewel wasn't Anse's and started to mess with Jewel about that, simply because he knew that even if he did say that to Cash, he wouldn't get the satisfaction through Cash that he would get from Jewel. This is far stretch, but being how Darl is so attentive and knows everything, what if Darl knew "down he road" that Anse wasn't his father as well? What if that's the reason he decides to pick on Jewel, probably because that makes him feel better about himself, and shows off his "bully-like" side? What if that's the reason he tried to burn Addie's casket in the fire, rather than his thought of the idea of hauling Addie's dead carcass around for days as being obscured? So like Laurel stated earlier, who truly knows?
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Molly
4/7/2013 01:41:45 pm
I know I responded to this! Because I remember my answer, but my name isn't on here? I dont have the book anymore, so i cant recall the textual evidence.
Anyways, Cash is clearly Addies child. He is the one she calls by her bedside,and anything she needs comes from him. He is the one who takes the long effort to make her coffin to fit her just right. And when it comes to moving the coffin onto the wagon, he had to perfect the angle and position.
Which means Darl is Anses. He is always teasing the others, Especially Jewel, but also cash for working so hard. The way he teases, gives you the hint that he really isnt concerned of Addies death, and instead makes a game of the children who are emotional over losing their mother. And anyone who brings up her death makes Darl uneasy sort of. Like he is completley tired of hearing of what everyone has to say for her death, and anything that has to do with her, he wants nothing to do with!