Cash

Cash Bundren by Diana, Max T, and Chloe [|Credit: Google Images] **Physical Description:** "A good carpenter Cash is. He holds the two planks on the trestle, fitted along the edges in a quarter of the finished box. He kneels and squints along the edge of them, then he lowers them and takes up the adze. A good carpenter" (Faulkner 4). It can be assumed by this quote, although not as descriptive as desired, that Cash is a strong man with good work ethic this description by Darl causes no room for question that Cash is the oldest and most respected Bundren child

**Summary of Character's involvement in the journey:**

Cash is first introduced by Darl as a "good carpenter", but through the progress of the story this label evolves into more. The eldest of the Bundren children, Cash takes on roles such as family caregiver and picture of selflessness, showing his responsibility from the beginning by using his skills to make his mother's casket. Through-out the journey however, these traits make Cash almost obsessive, as seen in the first passage we hear Cash's thoughts; a disciplined list of how the casket should be properly built. In the family's trek across the river, Cash suffers from a broken leg but refuses to acknowledge his cripple or complain. Determined to keep the family on route, he allows his injury to worsen to the point where he could lose his ability to walk again. Till the end of their journey, Cash continues to be the most stable child; possibly more of a father figure then Anse himself. Cash's actions might even give him a new label: christ figure.

**Internal/External Conflicts** __Internal Conflicts__ //Cash vs. Self// - When Cash breaks his leg, his family still has several days in their journey to bury Addie. Instead of giving in to the pain and complaining, Cash realizes that he must deal with his leg in the way that would be best for the family, which was to be silent about his suffering and put on a brave front. He gathers his courage and says this because he knows that his broken leg would be a burden to the family and does not want to slow them down on their way to Jefferson. __External Conflicts__ //Cash vs. Jewel// - Cash spends days building Addie's coffin and building it on a bevel with exact precision. However, when Cash, Darl, Jewel, and Anse are putting the coffin into the wagon, Jewel rushes the process, and the coffin is unbalanced. Also, Jewel carelessly sprays mud on the coffin, which Cash respectfully cleans up without a word. Throughout the novel, there seemed to be understated conflict between Jewel and Cash, which never completely escalated into a full-blown argument. //Cash vs. Nature -// During the river crossing, Cash had extreme difficulty trying to keep the coffin from falling off the wagon, and he eventually falls into the river with the coffin. With his last ounce of strength, he latches onto a horse, who pulls him to shore unconscious.

**Quotations** __Quote in Cash's own words:__ "But I thought more than once before we crossed the river and after, how it would be God's blessing if He did take her outen our hands and get shut of her in some clean way, and it seemed to me that when Jewel worked so to get her outen the river, he was going against God in a way, and then when Darl seen that it looked like one of us would have to do something, I can almost believe he done right in a way" (233). This shows Cash's general outlook on the entire situation. He was probably the most reliable, unbiased, and level-headed narrator of the novel. In this quote Cash discusses how he almost wished that Addie had been burned in the barn or drowned, because he realizes how ridiculous and desperate the situation had become. __Quote from another character about Cash:__ "It never bothered me much," he said. "You mean, it never bothered Anse much," I said. "No more than it bothered him to throw that poor devil down in the public street and handcuff him like a damn murderer. Don't tell me. And don't tell me it ain't going to bother you to lose sixty-odd square inches of skin to get that concrete off. And don't tell me it ain't going to bother you to have to limp around on one short leg for the balance of your life - if you walk at all again" (240). This is a quote from Peabody after Cash goes to him to fix his broken leg. He is frustrated with Anse because he is irresponsible and unintelligent, and he is aggravated with Cash because he thinks that he should not let Anse run the family into the ground. Peabody is also sick of Cash downplaying the pain that he is in, and wants him to stand up and take control of his life and his family. __Ulterior motives__ Painstakingly and arduously built coffin – spent much time and effort physically constructing the coffin So perhaps wants to travel to Jefferson to see his handiwork to completion? To make sure his “baby”/masterpiece is unscathed and to make sure it’s treated properly This notion can be justified by his bothered and annoyed responses to any mistreatment of his coffin Such as when Addie is laid down reversed in the coffin so her dress can fan out in headspace He is mad because he painstakingly constructed the coffin to be weighted specifically for his mom to be placed in normally So can be seen as selfish interest for the physical coffin Does he care about mother at all? After all, worked on coffin while she was still alive – very distasteful Whenever he expresses concern about the mother or specific instances where he tries to save the mom - is it just out of his own interest in the state of his coffin?

__Analysis to Family__ Most basically, he is the eldest Bundren child Perhaps around late twenties-early thirties in age The noise of his creation of the coffin in the beginning is met with mixed responses by the family Jewel detests Cash’s carpentry and creation of box – internally (and verbally) denounces it Darl respects Cash’s carpentry skills and remarks that his mother could not find a better coffin anywhere else Heartless Anse even remarks that he likes Cash’s carpentry Tull remarks that he wishes that Cash worked that hard on his barn – warm feelings Generally, Cash is well-liked and respected by the family

Cash Bundren by Diana, Max T, and Chloe [|Credit: Google Images] **Physical Description:** "A good carpenter Cash is. He holds the two planks on the trestle, fitted along the edges in a quarter of the finished box. He kneels and squints along the edge of them, then he lowers them and takes up the adze. A good carpenter" (Faulkner 4). It can be assumed by this quote, although not as descriptive as desired, that Cash is a strong man with good work ethic this description by Darl causes no room for question that Cash is the oldest and most respected Bundren child

**Summary of Character's involvement in the journey:**

Cash is first introduced by Darl as a "good carpenter", but through the progress of the story this label evolves into more. The eldest of the Bundren children, Cash takes on roles such as family caregiver and picture of selflessness, showing his responsibility from the beginning by using his skills to make his mother's casket. Through-out the journey however, these traits make Cash almost obsessive, as seen in the first passage we hear Cash's thoughts; a disciplined list of how the casket should be properly built. In the family's trek across the river, Cash suffers from a broken leg but refuses to acknowledge his cripple or complain. Determined to keep the family on route, he allows his injury to worsen to the point where he could lose his ability to walk again. Till the end of their journey, Cash continues to be the most stable child; possibly more of a father figure then Anse himself. Cash's actions might even give him a new label: christ figure.

**Internal/External Conflicts** __Internal Conflicts__ //Cash vs. Self// - When Cash breaks his leg, his family still has several days in their journey to bury Addie. Instead of giving in to the pain and complaining, Cash realizes that he must deal with his leg in the way that would be best for the family, which was to be silent about his suffering and put on a brave front. He gathers his courage and says this because he knows that his broken leg would be a burden to the family and does not want to slow them down on their way to Jefferson. __External Conflicts__ //Cash vs. Jewel// - Cash spends days building Addie's coffin and building it on a bevel with exact precision. However, when Cash, Darl, Jewel, and Anse are putting the coffin into the wagon, Jewel rushes the process, and the coffin is unbalanced. Also, Jewel carelessly sprays mud on the coffin, which Cash respectfully cleans up without a word. Throughout the novel, there seemed to be understated conflict between Jewel and Cash, which never completely escalated into a full-blown argument. //Cash vs. Nature -// During the river crossing, Cash had extreme difficulty trying to keep the coffin from falling off the wagon, and he eventually falls into the river with the coffin. With his last ounce of strength, he latches onto a horse, who pulls him to shore unconscious.

**Quotations** __Quote in Cash's own words:__ "But I thought more than once before we crossed the river and after, how it would be God's blessing if He did take her outen our hands and get shut of her in some clean way, and it seemed to me that when Jewel worked so to get her outen the river, he was going against God in a way, and then when Darl seen that it looked like one of us would have to do something, I can almost believe he done right in a way" (233). This shows Cash's general outlook on the entire situation. He was probably the most reliable, unbiased, and level-headed narrator of the novel. In this quote Cash discusses how he almost wished that Addie had been burned in the barn or drowned, because he realizes how ridiculous and desperate the situation had become. __Quote from another character about Cash:__ "It never bothered me much," he said. "You mean, it never bothered Anse much," I said. "No more than it bothered him to throw that poor devil down in the public street and handcuff him like a damn murderer. Don't tell me. And don't tell me it ain't going to bother you to lose sixty-odd square inches of skin to get that concrete off. And don't tell me it ain't going to bother you to have to limp around on one short leg for the balance of your life - if you walk at all again" (240). This is a quote from Peabody after Cash goes to him to fix his broken leg. He is frustrated with Anse because he is irresponsible and unintelligent, and he is aggravated with Cash because he thinks that he should not let Anse run the family into the ground. Peabody is also sick of Cash downplaying the pain that he is in, and wants him to stand up and take control of his life and his family. __Ulterior motives__ Painstakingly and arduously built coffin – spent much time and effort physically constructing the coffin So perhaps wants to travel to Jefferson to see his handiwork to completion? To make sure his “baby”/masterpiece is unscathed and to make sure it’s treated properly This notion can be justified by his bothered and annoyed responses to any mistreatment of his coffin Such as when Addie is laid down reversed in the coffin so her dress can fan out in headspace He is mad because he painstakingly constructed the coffin to be weighted specifically for his mom to be placed in normally So can be seen as selfish interest for the physical coffin Does he care about mother at all? After all, worked on coffin while she was still alive – very distasteful Whenever he expresses concern about the mother or specific instances where he tries to save the mom - is it just out of his own interest in the state of his coffin?

__Analysis to Family__ Most basically, he is the eldest Bundren child Perhaps around late twenties-early thirties in age The noise of his creation of the coffin in the beginning is met with mixed responses by the family Jewel detests Cash’s carpentry and creation of box – internally (and verbally) denounces it Darl respects Cash’s carpentry skills and remarks that his mother could not find a better coffin anywhere else Heartless Anse even remarks that he likes Cash’s carpentry Tull remarks that he wishes that Cash worked that hard on his barn – warm feelings Generally, Cash is well-liked and respected by the family Tull considers him to be a hard worker and Deep figurative conflict with Vardaman however He makes the coffin and helps to nail mother inside – Vardaman distraught with grief and insanity and even drills holes in top of coffin So he is responsible in part for Vardaman’s emotional damage in some deep figurative sense? No real conflicts with anyone else – respected by Anse, Darl, Tull… Only person who has a problem with him is Jewel Feelings for mother make him mad when he hears Cash sawing the coffin But other than with Jewel he seems to be well-liked by all

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