Section 55 is one of the most humorous sections in the book. It is filled with earthy and bawdy humor and shows the small-town rascal taking advantage of the country girl, a classically humorous situation in American folktales. The reader should make the contrast here with the druggist from Mottson […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 55-59Summary and Analysis Sections 52-54
In Section 52, Darl notices the effect of the arduous journey on all of the family. But even though he is exhausted, he is still in control of the situation, as is illustrated in the central episode in this section — that is, the attempted fight between Jewel and the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 52-54Summary and Analysis Sections 48-51
In Section 39, we heard Addie say that Jewel will be her salvation, that is, he will save her “from the water and from the fire.” Prior to her narration, we had the water episode in which Addie’s coffin and body were rescued by Jewel. During these sections we have […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 48-51Summary and Analysis Sections 45-47
The section that is narrated by Moseley is given as an ultimate contrast to the later section narrated by the Jefferson druggist, MacGowan. Each druggist functions as a comment upon the other. This section also plays an important function in that it gives the reader the outside view that is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 45-47Summary and Analysis Sections 42-44
With the resumption of the journey, Darl’s narrations become much more intricate and involved. The intricacy of his narration might be Faulkner’s way of preparing us for Darl’s later problems with alleged insanity. For example, in Section 42, the technique employed is that the parts in italics refer to Jewel […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 42-44Summary and Analysis Sections 39-41
These next three sections function as a type of interlude. They take the reader away from the funeral procession for a few moments, and we go briefly back into time. In a sense, Cora’s section functions as an introduction to Addie’s section, which is then followed by Whitfield’s section. One […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 39-41Summary and Analysis Sections 28-38
These sections present one of the more crucial and significant episodes of the novel, that is, the arrival at the bridge and the loss of the coffin while attempting to ford the high waters. The introduction to the washed-out bridge is presented from Anse’s viewpoint and again presents Anse as […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 28-38Summary and Analysis Sections 24-27
The beginning of the journey is announced by Vardaman, who seems to have already forgotten the grief for his mother and instead has simply substituted in his mind that his mother is a fish. With the confusion of his mother with the fish, Vardaman begins to examine the other relationships […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 24-27Summary and Analysis Sections 15-23
Section 15, narrated by Vardaman, begins to juxtapose various animals and their breathing. Vardaman’s recollection of his rabbits, his dead fish, and his being once trapped in a crib occurs simultaneously with his inability to accept his mother’s death as a physical reality. The concept of death leaves him confused […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 15-23Summary and Analysis Sections 11-14
In the total body of Faulkner’s writings, Dr. Peabody will appear in several works and always retain the same characteristics. That is, he is the overweight, friendly humanitarian, the person who grasps the very nature and essence of a person’s character, but who is yet willing to devote his time […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Sections 11-14