Squatting In Dewey Dell

Dewey Dell is “squatting” as her “wet dress shapes for the dead eyes of three blind men those mammalian ludicrosities which are the horizons and the valleys of the earth” (Faulkner). Here, Dewey Dell is dehumanized and fit into the animal motif. Her purpose is not to appear beautiful or attractive, rather as a woman who is meant to bear children. When Darl is observing these things, he does so through a cynical lens, because he knows of Dewey Dell’s illegitimate pregnancy with the farm hand. It is also important to recognize that this sentence marks the transition from Darl’s surreal and philosophical insight back to the present reality. Interestingly, Faulkner uses this technique, in which he alternates between physical existence and metaphysical …show more content…
Originally, they had the difficult task of transporting a body, but now they must search for lost tools, are lacking a horse team of their own, and must care for Cash’s leg. This moment of serene observance offers closure to the day’s turbulent events. In reference to the novel as a whole, while it appears that Darl reflects peacefully, the family may be experiencing an eye of the storm, so to speak. Before, they all endured death, drowned mules and a broken leg. The buildup of anger, distrust and frustration within the group is waiting to be released in a series of ridiculously wild events. Soon after this moment, a barn will burn, Dewey Dell will be raped, Darl will be sent away and Anse will steal from his children and bring home a new wife – the storm will …show more content…
Although their thoughts are characterized as “chaotic”, scholars describe the two as “introspective, intelligent [and] articulate young men” (Macarro 131) who happen to suffer from similar bouts of insanity. Each work as a whole suggests that their unstable nature is at least, in part, due to their deeper understanding of the world around them.
The passage is a memory of Quentin’s experience shortly after discovering Caddy’s promiscuity and loss of virginity to Dalton Ames. With little notice, the text transforms from physical plot in which Quentin “ran down the hill in that vacuum of crickets…” to a surreal representation of “a breath travelling across a mirror.” This mirror can be interpreted as the metaphorical representation of that what now separates Quentin and Caddy: their virginity, or lack thereof (Sakano 148). This intriguing, although odd depiction sets the stage for a portrayal in which multiple conclusions about purity and relationships may be