The Burden of the Bundrens
The names of the Bundren family are very significant.
~ The Bundren family: this name can be broken up into the words bund, which is a league, confederacy, or association. All of these are a collection of a tight group of people, which can represent a family such as the Bundrens. Bundren can also be broken down into the word ren, which is an allusion to the confucious belief of society's duty to carry out its responsibilities.
~Darl: this name resembles the word darling which is ironic because Darl competes with his brother Jewel throughout the novel to claim the role of Addie's favorite.
~Jewel: is Addies favorite son and his name in the Old French "jouel," a form of "jou" meaning delight."
~Cash: is ironic because his father steals from him.
~ Vardamin: the root of his name is "vard" which is the old Scottish form of the word "ward." Which refers to an under-age orphan, and even though Vardaman has a family nobody takes care of him so he is an orphan.
~Dewey Dell: Dew could allude to youth and how quickly it evaporates because Dewey Dell is so young yet robbed of her innocence when she becomes pregnant. Moreover, "dell" means a young girl or wench of a vagrant class. The Bundren's are similar to vagrants so this describes Dewey Dell well.
~Anse: is derived from "anserous" which meas goose-like, stupid, and silly.
~Skeeter MacGowan: His name also explains his character "gowan" is a drug, specifically opium. He works in a pharmacy and drugged and tricked Dewey Dell.
Citations:
Friesen, Faye and Peek, Charles. "What's in a Name? Etymology and As I Lay Dying" Teaching Faulkner. Center for Faulkner Studies Southeast Missouri State University. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www6.semo.edu/cfs/tfn_online/dying_friesenpeek.htm
"Gallery For Stack Of Books Png." Gallery For Stack Of Books Png. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://skylaproject.com/1/stack-of-books-png/>.
~ The Bundren family: this name can be broken up into the words bund, which is a league, confederacy, or association. All of these are a collection of a tight group of people, which can represent a family such as the Bundrens. Bundren can also be broken down into the word ren, which is an allusion to the confucious belief of society's duty to carry out its responsibilities.
~Darl: this name resembles the word darling which is ironic because Darl competes with his brother Jewel throughout the novel to claim the role of Addie's favorite.
~Jewel: is Addies favorite son and his name in the Old French "jouel," a form of "jou" meaning delight."
~Cash: is ironic because his father steals from him.
~ Vardamin: the root of his name is "vard" which is the old Scottish form of the word "ward." Which refers to an under-age orphan, and even though Vardaman has a family nobody takes care of him so he is an orphan.
~Dewey Dell: Dew could allude to youth and how quickly it evaporates because Dewey Dell is so young yet robbed of her innocence when she becomes pregnant. Moreover, "dell" means a young girl or wench of a vagrant class. The Bundren's are similar to vagrants so this describes Dewey Dell well.
~Anse: is derived from "anserous" which meas goose-like, stupid, and silly.
~Skeeter MacGowan: His name also explains his character "gowan" is a drug, specifically opium. He works in a pharmacy and drugged and tricked Dewey Dell.
Citations:
Friesen, Faye and Peek, Charles. "What's in a Name? Etymology and As I Lay Dying" Teaching Faulkner. Center for Faulkner Studies Southeast Missouri State University. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www6.semo.edu/cfs/tfn_online/dying_friesenpeek.htm
"Gallery For Stack Of Books Png." Gallery For Stack Of Books Png. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://skylaproject.com/1/stack-of-books-png/>.