After yesterday's class, I've been thinking a lot about Cash, and if he cares the most for Addie or if his work on the coffin is simply because he likes being a carpenter.
Grief comes in many different forms, and Addie Bundren's death seems to affect the other Bundrens, even emotionless Cash. When I think of grief from a death, I think of a reaction like Jewel's or Vardaman's. Both are confused and don't know what to do. This causes Jewel to be angry about everything. Vardaman is so young that he doesn't know how to deal with death and drills air holes in Addie's coffin. Cash's grief isn't as easily detectable as theirs, but that doesn't mean he's not mourning.
Cash definitely has an insane work ethic and a clear passion for carpentry. He pays so much attention to small details and focuses on everything he does. But he seems to focus even more on the coffin. Of course his hard work could just be because he really loves being a carpenter but I feel like it's more than that. He seems to be channeling his grief into Addie's coffin by making something for his dying mother. There's really not much Cash, or anyone in the family, can do about Addie dying, but he knows he can make her a coffin, so he gives it his all. He builds it right outside her window, which Jewel hates, but it can be seen as act of love for his mother. He wants to show Addie that he's putting a lot of time and care into making her coffin and that he's making sure everything will be perfect just for her. I'm sure he could act like the other Bundrens when Addie dies, but he's putting any emotion he has aside to finish his work and making sure it's all complete.
Cash made a piece of art for his mother as she lay dying, and it seems like he's the child who has put in the most effort for his mother, even if it doesn't seem like he's reacting at all to her passing.
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This is really good insight, Marie! I also saw Cash's drive to finish and perfect the coffin as evidence of his love for her. It seems to me that Cash isn't the best at human interaction or articulating his emotions, so instead of spending time with his mother like Dewey Dell, he put his energy into making his mother one last gift.
ReplyDeleteCash is a pretty admirable guy to put so much effort into the coffin. But he also puts all of his effort into his work. I am not so sure if he is really grieving a whole lot. His eye for detail and specification extends to the other things he does. He knew the exact measurements of how far he fell off the roof when he broke his leg. This pattern of hard work makes me think that he may not be as emotionally invested in the coffin as one might think. Of course it is still possible that he is, I just think it is possible he isn't.
ReplyDeleteAs we see throughout the novel, Cash isn't much for outward displays of emotion--even his own (doubtlessly excruciating) pain doesn't warrant comment (he's sweating bullets with a broken, infected leg, bouncing around on the back of a cart, and he keeps saying, "It dont bother none"). He expresses himself through carpentry, and I definitely think we can read his careful construction of the coffin ("on the bevel"!) as an expression of love. He deliberately places himself under Addie's window, holds up cut boards for her to see and approve of. And as I mentioned in class, the moment where he gently brushes away the mud Jewel's horse kicks up onto the coffin really reflects the significance of his handiwork to him.
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