As I Lay Dying
A True Hero is Hard to Find
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, gives many different aspects of what makes a character a hero and the true definition of what a hero really is. Although there are fifteen different characters in this novel that speak from first persons view, many of these characters can be viewed as the Hero. The most heroic character in this novel is Jewel. Throughout the novel, As I lay Dying, Jewel seems to be a loyal, caring, loving human being towards his dying and deceased mother, Addie Bundren.
Jewel, Addie’s favorite son, cares for his mother and would do anything to make his mother’s wish to be buried in Jackson come true. Jewel is the only one of Addie’s sons who has any type of love for his mother. He is Quick-tempered when he feels that people are rude to his mother. “It’s because he stays out there, right under the window, hammering and sawing on that goddamn box. Where she’s got to see him.” (Faulkner, 14). Jewel is getting very angry at his brother Cash because he is pretty much making it seem like he can’t wait for his own mother to pass and is rubbing it in her face by joking around. Jewel steps up and says, “I told him to go somewhere else” (Faulkner,14) because he doesn’t want his mother to die knowing her sons can’t stand her, and hate her to death.
Jewel was a hard working son. He ended up trading something he loved and worked for, to get mules to carry the wagon with his mothers coffin. He sacrificed something he loved to be loyal to his mother. Darl, the oldest son, says “She’ll rest easier for knowing it’s a good one, and private. She was ever a private woman. You know it well.” (Faulkner, 18). Darl is speaking to Jewel that they want the burial to be private. Jewel responds by saying “then let it be private” (Faulkner, 18). Addie wants the family to go in their own wagon the way she wished to be buried. Jewel is loyal and very respectful to his mother and has the attitude that what she wants is what she is going to...
View Full Essay
