For whom is Vardaman named?
By: Monica Andrews, Olivia Castro, & Brendan McMahon
Vardaman, Mississipi named after Governor James K. Vardaman. Governor Vardaman was bias to racist politics that would help him gain power. He always supported a wide movement of white supremacy during his time.
He was very comfortable with using the "N" word and openly voiced actions that he would take against them.
This can connect to the character Vardaman because of the way he acts after the barn fire. When Jewel is burned he is the only one to use the "N" word in describing the burns on his back. The word is used frequently in other novels by Faulkner (most notably in Light in August), but in As I Lay Dying, is rare; it is only used four times, and three of those were Vardaman.
Another meaning behind his name is the word Vard which can also be "vard" or Scottish originated word "ward", suggesting that he is "trapped" within the general family prejudice. In addition, “vard” can refer to an underaged orphan. Vardaman, had lost his mother and also lacks an exemplary father figure in his life, thus leaving him “orphaned”.
References:
http://www6.semo.edu/cfs/tfn_online/dying_friesenpeek.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/flood-vardaman/
By: Monica Andrews, Olivia Castro, & Brendan McMahon
Vardaman, Mississipi named after Governor James K. Vardaman. Governor Vardaman was bias to racist politics that would help him gain power. He always supported a wide movement of white supremacy during his time.
He was very comfortable with using the "N" word and openly voiced actions that he would take against them.
This can connect to the character Vardaman because of the way he acts after the barn fire. When Jewel is burned he is the only one to use the "N" word in describing the burns on his back. The word is used frequently in other novels by Faulkner (most notably in Light in August), but in As I Lay Dying, is rare; it is only used four times, and three of those were Vardaman.
Another meaning behind his name is the word Vard which can also be "vard" or Scottish originated word "ward", suggesting that he is "trapped" within the general family prejudice. In addition, “vard” can refer to an underaged orphan. Vardaman, had lost his mother and also lacks an exemplary father figure in his life, thus leaving him “orphaned”.
References:
http://www6.semo.edu/cfs/tfn_online/dying_friesenpeek.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/flood-vardaman/