Vardaman

**Vardaman -- Mark, Lindsay, Monica **



**Examination of internal and external conflicts **
 * **Being the youngest child in the family: **  Because of his status as the youngest Bundren child, Vardaman often feels neglected and ignored. After Addie’s passing, he thinks that nobody is grieving as much as he is. However, to Vardaman, grieving is an outward display of tears as opposed to internal distress.
 * **Struggles to understand the concept of existence:** Although he is very young, Vardaman frequently ponders what it is to exist. This is interesting, most importantly, because of his age. As previously mentioned, Vardaman was only eight or nine years old, yet he pondered such deep, philosophical issues. However, Vardaman struggled to understand that his questions about existence were impossible to answer.
 * **Vardaman vs. coffin:** Because of Vardaman's inability to deal with his mother's death, he tends to show hostility towards her coffin. After Addie's death, Vardaman drills holes in her coffin and into her face to ensure that she can "breathe." This can be attributed to his misconception of death as a temporary state of being vs. a permanent state of being. Later, when crossing the river, Vardaman becomes frantic when the coffin starts drifting down the river. He frantically yells to make sure that it doesn't escape with Addie's body.