Butler, Camron
Now when you read the title I'm sure at least some people immediately think "how is cash a hero in this story?" While I know others already know what I'm about to talk about so there is probably minimal reason for reading this (except that you gotta get those comments done). Now into the thick of it. I would argue that Cash is the only real heroic figure in this novel because Cash is the only one not looking to benefit from the trip, as well as his selfless behavior and shy demeanor.
First we'll discuss Darl. I don't think Darl can operate as one of our heroes because he is somewhat of an outlier to everything. Cash even describes Darl as not being from this world. It's true that, like Cash, Darl doesn't have any real benefit from the trip. However, Darl and Jewel don't even want to go, they want to bury her in the Bundren plot. And even though Darl was our primary narrator he was kind of creepy at times and strangely obssessed with people's private affairs. Even though I like the effort and feeling Darl does put into the trip I don't think he is our hero.
Jewel is a simpler case, not to talk about in general, just in regards to him not being our hero. Jewel does have some "heroic" traits however I think they are over shadowed or not working in his favor here. Jewel is an "illegitimate" child and in many cases that's how hero's or at least protagonist's stories begin. You don't learn about it at the beginning but it comes up later that Clark Kent (you won't believe this) ISN'T actually the son of a couple of farmers from smallville just like Jewel isn't the son of Anse (Jewel is half preacher). Another trait he shares with some classis heroes is his rebellious nature. However, this trait, ends up working against him. That's because Jewel's rebelliousness seems to be rather self serving while well known heroes are often rebelling in order to help OTHERS. Jewel goes against Anse (by existing) when he does anything with his horse. Just getting the horse went against Anse. He got the horse for himself and got a breed that was so stubborn no one else could even ride it, sounds pretty selfish to me. I don't think Jewel is our hero.
Vardaman is a small child, he doesn't do much and his narratives are hard to read. I'm not voting him our hero. Meanwhile Addie's depressing outlook on life and seemingly malicious intent for Anse root her out as a dead heroine for me (even though the title is about her).
Dewey Dell told on Darl and got him sent to a sanitarium. But I liked Darl so I have a prejudice against her. Anyway, she doesn't help the group out really at all, she only wants to go to fix a personal problem, and once again, she got her own brother sent to a sanitarium for staring at her. I know it's creepy but at this time that's basically sending your own brother to be tortured for the rest of his (now probably shortened) life. Finally Dewey Dell just isn't a vary amiable character, I'm not saying you have to like someone for them to be a hero, nor do you have to have their same values or beliefs but she also just doesn't really do anything to deserve the title of hero.
I don't know who thinks of Anse as a hero anymore after the end of the book.
Positives about Anse: He keeps his word
Negatives about Anse: Everything else
Just undertaking an impressive task does not make you a hero, the journey was hard and some may consider impressive but Loki facing the adventures doesn't make him a hero even though it's impressive.
Now, back to Cash. Cash, on this trip, gets absolutely nothing. I think he gets a bannana actually but nevermind that. Cash goes on this trip with no ulterior motive other than to drop a toolbox off at Tull's place for a job he'll do later. His gain would be that he wouldn't have to carry it later, it wouldn't even save him time or anything. Additionally, Cash just seems to want to the trip to go well, he doesn't bring up objections and say they should just bury Addie in the Bundren plot, he's just ready to help out Anse in his quest and tries to make everything go as smooth as possible. He tries to inform people of the best ways to do thinks like ways of keeping Addie's coffin safe while on the wagon. Cash is also the only one we really see working for anyone else when he makes Addie's coffin. Obviously he doesn't charge Anse for the coffin and he makes it as nice as he can. The time we see Jewel hard at work on his own, it's for himself. Cash also makes more than one self sacrifice. There's obviously the river scene where he told Darl to get off the wagon while he could which resulted in Cash being seriously injured while Darl was unharmed. And this injury has pretty much ruined Cash. Being a carpentor with only 1 leg would be extremely challenging. And we never even hear Cash complain about this, he doens't even complain about the pain, Cash doesn't want to be a nuisance for anybody and wants to trip to go as planned. Cash didn't even want to stop and get a cast. I vote cash for As I Lay Dying's hero. Someone else should write about whether or not Cash meets Joseph Campbell's requirements for a hero's journey.
Please comment below any counter evidence or arguments you have with ma stuff because:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsYY5NgSyLQ
Good post, and I definitely agree that Cash is probably the most likable heroic candidate out of our characters. He is the most selfless and seemingly the most hard working of the bunch, and yet he arguably got off the worst out of the group as well. Feelsbadman, but I guess life isn't fair sometimes. Oh, and lovely video by the way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Cash is the most heroic character in the Bundren family, and I think he was the most likable from the very beginning of the book. He is extremely hardworking, passionate about the quality of his carpentry, and by far the most rational of them all. Although his narration in the first few chapters is a bit hard to follow, he makes an effort to be clearer when Darl's narration gets more confusing, and it often feels like he picks up the slack in the family without complaint.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool analysis of all the characters' "hero potential", and in general I agree but I would point out that Jewel did go sell his horse for the Bundrens to get the mules even though he definitely didn't have to. So although he's an angsty firecracker, I don't think its fair to call him totally self-serving
ReplyDeleteI agree that by process of elimination, Cash is the only character with heroic potential unburdened by contradiction. Cash is the shortest and least frequent narrator as well. Does that say anything heroic about him, or is his inability to narrate or aversion to narration less heroic in nature?
ReplyDeleteCash's consistent stoicism is a big marker of his heroic status for me: he has maybe the most reason to complain as anyone (with his leg screaming in pain, to the point where he's sweating bullets and passing out, but all he says is "it dont bother none"), and he never once offers the slightest word of complaint or objections. He's always grateful to anyone who tries to help, and he's never less than respectful of everyone in the family. Added to this, he's also the most level-headed, pragmatic member of the family.
ReplyDeleteBut none of this is his idea, and he isn't in any way the originator or visionary behind the journey. We might describe his form of heroism as a more "soldierly" kind. Cash is a good soldier. It's a shame Anse is his commanding officer.