Anse Bundren

Jewel Bundren

Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness.

Cora Tull

Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious.

Cash Bundren

Father and son; Anse relies on Cash's labor and craftsmanship but shows little gratitude or affection.

Vernon Tull

Neighbors; Anse constantly borrows from Tull's goodwill, which Tull reluctantly extends out of duty.

Cora Tull

Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious.

Cash Bundren

Father and son; Anse relies on Cash's labor and craftsmanship but shows little gratitude or affection.

Cora Tull

Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious.

Jewel Bundren

Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness.

Jewel Bundren

Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness.

Vernon Tull

Neighbors; Anse constantly borrows from Tull's goodwill, which Tull reluctantly extends out of duty.

Darl

Sitting on the back porch, taking snuff, his splayed feet a testament to a life of hard labor.

Darl

Rubs his knees and gazes out over the land, expressing his reluctance and fear of upsetting Addie.

Cora

Blamed for driving Darl from Addie's deathbed and for his selfishness.

Dewey Dell

Mentioned as not daring to sweat for fear of catching his death, relying on neighbors to do for him.

Tull

Shows passive resignation and weariness; focused on Addie's wish to be buried in Jefferson.

Anse

Anse is the narrator of this chapter, expressing his grievances about the road, his sons, and his financial burdens. He shows a fatalistic attitude and a sense of victimhood.

Peabody

Finally sends for Peabody; stands idle, blames circumstances, and is confronted about his neglect.

Darl

Stands by the bed, makes awkward attempts to smooth the quilt, and expresses relief that he can now get his teeth, showing his self-absorption.

Dewey Dell

Anse sits at the table with a dazed, steer-like expression, barely eating. He rouses himself to say Addie would not begrudge him the food.

Vardaman

Anse walks around the scene, his shadow moving, and comments on the cost of flour, sugar, and coffee, reflecting his practical concerns amid the family crisis.

Tull

Described as standing like a scarecrow, seemingly unmoved; Tull reflects that Anse's only burden is himself.

Darl

Wanders aimlessly in the rain, wearing Jewel's too-short coat, and is sent inside by Cash.

Tull

Dignified and composed at the funeral, shaved but with a cut on his jaw, determined to take Addie to Jefferson.

Cash

Anse impatiently orders Cash to pick up the boards, showing little regard for Cash's careful work.

Darl

Lets go of the coffin to turn back and lock the door, showing his practical concern even in the midst of the struggle.

Vardaman

Insists on respect for the dead and questions Dewey Dell's package, but allows the journey to proceed.

Darl

Expresses anger at Jewel for not joining and for riding his horse, calling it a flouting of Addie and himself.

Anse

Narrator of the chapter; expresses frustration with Darl's laughter and concern for family reputation.

Darl

Sits hunched and silent, looking straight ahead.

Anse

Narrates his grievances about the hard country and the unjust system, expresses faith in divine reward, and looks forward to getting new teeth.

Samson

Stubbornly insists on keeping his promise to Addie, shows pride in the river's height, and refuses to come inside or accept help.

Tull

Hesitant and mumbling, he repeats his promise to Addie but does not act.

Darl

Unaware of Jewel's activities; complains about Jewel's laziness and questions the horse purchase.

Tull

Shows hesitation and guilt, repeatedly looking back and insisting on his promise to Addie.

Darl

Stands by mournfully, repeating his lament about being a misfortunate man; does not actively help.

Addie

Addie describes her marriage to Anse, his passivity, and her sense of duty toward him.

Whitfield

Anse is the intended recipient of Whitfield's confession, but Whitfield never speaks to him directly.

Darl

Refuses to enter the house, accepts a drink, and begins negotiating for a new team.

Armstid

Reveals he traded Cash's money for a talking machine and tried to swap Jewel's horse for a team; mumbles self-pityingly about his teeth and trials, showing his manipulative selfishness.

Vardaman

Drives the wagon, mentions needing medicine in Mottson, and laments not leaving Cash at Armstid's.

Moseley

Seen sitting on the wagon, arguing with the marshal about their right to stop in the street. He tells a long tale about their journey's difficulties.

Darl

Stops the wagon at a house, expresses reluctance to be beholden, and apologizes to Cash for his broken leg.

Darl

Emerges from the house and helps hold Dewey Dell back during the fire.

Vardaman

Explains that he put the flat iron on Cash's leg to help, and blames Darl for the idea.

Darl

Drives the wagon; expresses regret for not having the grave dug in advance and complains about the delay.

Cash

Borrows spades from Mrs. Bundren; decides to commit Darl to the asylum.

Peabody

Anse is absent, returning borrowed spades, but is criticized by Peabody for his neglect and selfishness in handling Cash's injury and Addie's burial.

Dewey Dell

Anse pressures Dewey Dell for the ten dollars, accusing her of being a thief and ungrateful, and ultimately takes the money.

Cash

Returns with new teeth and a new wife, Mrs. Bundren, carrying a graphophone.