Character Analysis

Jewel Bundren is a very complex character. He expresses his emotions in a different manner than most others in the book "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner. In the Bundren family tree, Jewel doesn't find a place like the other children do, mainly because he is the bastard child of Addie Bundrens affair with Reverend Whitfield which leaves him out of the inner circle of the family. Jewel faces hardships that the other do not because of this, which leads him to act the way he does. In most instances when someone attempts to discuss something with jewel that he isn't interested in, he'll most likely tell them "shut your goddamn mouth".

In his family, Jewel seems to be the most similar to his half brother Vardaman. Both characters frequently show their feelings in an odd way, which leaves the rest of the characters confused and leads them to become labeled as crazy. This trait is also what seems to motivate Jewel to be as independent as he is. He works for no one but himself, and he asks for no shortcuts. He even goes as far as to work on a neighbors property clearing land in order to build up enough money to afford a horse for himself, because Anse his step father refuses to give him one or help pay for one.

In the book, Jewel only has one chapter that is narrated from his point of view. This makes sense, as he is a man of few words. In that chapter he complains of his half brother Cash, who is making a casket for Addie, and it makes him feel as though everyone has given up on any chance of a recovery from his mother. At one point he even directly confronts Cash about this saying "Good God, do you want to see her in it?" . He feels that the rest of the family is only making the situation worse, with the constant sawing and the waiting around Addie as she dies.

Jewel speak infrequently, and he is only mentioned by other characters after his chapter is over. Only glimpses can be seen of his activities, and emotions which makes him difficult to study. His strong convictions of right and wrong guide him and allow him to develope after Addies death and emerge as a leader in the family. Characters outside the family all sympathize with his struggle of dealing with Anse as a step father, as most other characters share the sentiment that he is lazy and self centered.