Our Character Analysis of the Infamous
Dewey Dell
By: Dina Cavallaro, Kaylee Kick, & Kara Sweeney
Things we know- She is pregnant out of wedlock, presumably by Lafe. She is seventeen years old going through this traumatic experience without her mother present. She is the only female character left in the Bundren family. The motif of a "cow" follows her throughout the novel, presumably representing femininity and maternity.
Things we assume- She is a naive young woman who is willing to do anything to terminate her unwanted pregnancy. Addie gave birth to Dewey Dell in order to make up for her son Jewel whom she had as a result of an affair with Reverend Whitfield. She is desperate for some guidance and a female influence to aid her in her struggle. She is ashamed of her situation as we can tell from her inability to speak of her issue referring to it only as "a female trouble." She is in a vulnerable position when she meets with MacGowan, hoping that he will be able to help her.
Questions we would like answered- Had Addie not died, would Dewey Dell have been smarter about her pregnancy? What kind of advice would Addie have been able to give Dewey?
Relationship with family- Dewey Dell has a unique relationship with all of her siblings as well as her parents. Her relationship with Vardaman is often one that involves her taking care of him as a mother would. Vardaman is still a young boy and he looks to Dewey Dell as the only female who can give him love and guidance after Addie passes away. Dewey Dell's relationship with Jewel is one that is tolerable but protective at the same time. When Jewel was about to get into a fight, Dewey Dell stepped in so that the man could not hurt Jewel. Her relationship with Darl is sometimes one with resentment. Darl is the only one who knows about her secret of being pregnant, and her dream of killing her brother comes from her fear of his power of perception. Her relationship with Cash is not very clear. The two do not interact all too much, this could be due to the fact that they are completely different people. Cash is logical and Dewey Dell is very ignorant and naïve. Her relationship with Anse is one of hate because of his lacking of fatherly responsibilities. He doesn't even notice his only daughter is pregnant, and ruins her only chance of getting an abortion by taking her ten dollars Lafe gave to her. Lastly, Dewey Dell's relationship with Addie is not talked about too much in the book, but it is clear that she cared for her, because when Addie was dying Dewey Dell was fanning her and there to take care of her. Addie was the only female example for Dewey Dell, and with her gone Dewey Dell is forced to deal with her problems by herself and take Addie's role and take care of the family.
Dewey Dell
By: Dina Cavallaro, Kaylee Kick, & Kara Sweeney
Things we know- She is pregnant out of wedlock, presumably by Lafe. She is seventeen years old going through this traumatic experience without her mother present. She is the only female character left in the Bundren family. The motif of a "cow" follows her throughout the novel, presumably representing femininity and maternity.
Things we assume- She is a naive young woman who is willing to do anything to terminate her unwanted pregnancy. Addie gave birth to Dewey Dell in order to make up for her son Jewel whom she had as a result of an affair with Reverend Whitfield. She is desperate for some guidance and a female influence to aid her in her struggle. She is ashamed of her situation as we can tell from her inability to speak of her issue referring to it only as "a female trouble." She is in a vulnerable position when she meets with MacGowan, hoping that he will be able to help her.
Questions we would like answered- Had Addie not died, would Dewey Dell have been smarter about her pregnancy? What kind of advice would Addie have been able to give Dewey?
Relationship with family- Dewey Dell has a unique relationship with all of her siblings as well as her parents. Her relationship with Vardaman is often one that involves her taking care of him as a mother would. Vardaman is still a young boy and he looks to Dewey Dell as the only female who can give him love and guidance after Addie passes away. Dewey Dell's relationship with Jewel is one that is tolerable but protective at the same time. When Jewel was about to get into a fight, Dewey Dell stepped in so that the man could not hurt Jewel. Her relationship with Darl is sometimes one with resentment. Darl is the only one who knows about her secret of being pregnant, and her dream of killing her brother comes from her fear of his power of perception. Her relationship with Cash is not very clear. The two do not interact all too much, this could be due to the fact that they are completely different people. Cash is logical and Dewey Dell is very ignorant and naïve. Her relationship with Anse is one of hate because of his lacking of fatherly responsibilities. He doesn't even notice his only daughter is pregnant, and ruins her only chance of getting an abortion by taking her ten dollars Lafe gave to her. Lastly, Dewey Dell's relationship with Addie is not talked about too much in the book, but it is clear that she cared for her, because when Addie was dying Dewey Dell was fanning her and there to take care of her. Addie was the only female example for Dewey Dell, and with her gone Dewey Dell is forced to deal with her problems by herself and take Addie's role and take care of the family.