# Anse Bundren — As I Lay Dying character guide > Anse Bundren in As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Anse Bundren, A Bundren, Anse, Poor Anse **First appearance:** 0010-anse ## Snapshot The Bundren patriarch, a complaining, self-pitying farmer who turns his wife's dying wish into a stubborn forty-mile errand of his own. ## Who they are Anse is a hunched, rooster-haired man who never sweats and never stops talking about what he has suffered, invoking Addie's wish to be buried in Jefferson as sacred duty. He begrudges every dollar and every favor, yet insists on being beholden to no one but 'her flesh and blood,' and his children's lives bend around his inertia and his pride. His refusal to let Addie rest until they reach town sets the whole journey in motion and exposes how much of his piety is really self-interest. ## Relationships ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness. ### [Cora Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cora_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious. ### [Cash Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cash_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse relies on Cash's labor and craftsmanship but shows little gratitude or affection. ### [Vernon Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/vernon_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Anse constantly borrows from Tull's goodwill, which Tull reluctantly extends out of duty. ### [Cora Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cora_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious. ### [Cash Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cash_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse relies on Cash's labor and craftsmanship but shows little gratitude or affection. ### [Cora Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cora_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Cora judges Anse harshly for his selfishness and lack of piety, while he remains oblivious. ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness. ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse exploits Jewel's strength and resentment, while Jewel silently despises his father's laziness. ### [Vernon Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/vernon_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Anse constantly borrows from Tull's goodwill, which Tull reluctantly extends out of duty. ## In the story ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Sitting on the back porch, taking snuff, his splayed feet a testament to a life of hard labor. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Rubs his knees and gazes out over the land, expressing his reluctance and fear of upsetting Addie. ### [Cora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cora) Blamed for driving Darl from Addie's deathbed and for his selfishness. ### [Dewey Dell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/dewey-dell) Mentioned as not daring to sweat for fear of catching his death, relying on neighbors to do for him. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Shows passive resignation and weariness; focused on Addie's wish to be buried in Jefferson. ### [Anse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/peabody) Finally sends for Peabody; stands idle, blames circumstances, and is confronted about his neglect. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Described as standing like a scarecrow, seemingly unmoved; Tull reflects that Anse's only burden is himself. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Wanders aimlessly in the rain, wearing Jewel's too-short coat, and is sent inside by Cash. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Dignified and composed at the funeral, shaved but with a cut on his jaw, determined to take Addie to Jefferson. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Anse impatiently orders Cash to pick up the boards, showing little regard for Cash's careful work. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Insists on respect for the dead and questions Dewey Dell's package, but allows the journey to proceed. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Expresses anger at Jewel for not joining and for riding his horse, calling it a flouting of Addie and himself. ### [Anse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/anse) Narrator of the chapter; expresses frustration with Darl's laughter and concern for family reputation. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Sits hunched and silent, looking straight ahead. ### [Anse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Hesitant and mumbling, he repeats his promise to Addie but does not act. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Unaware of Jewel's activities; complains about Jewel's laziness and questions the horse purchase. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Shows hesitation and guilt, repeatedly looking back and insisting on his promise to Addie. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Stands by mournfully, repeating his lament about being a misfortunate man; does not actively help. ### [Addie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/addie) Addie describes her marriage to Anse, his passivity, and her sense of duty toward him. ### [Whitfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/whitfield) Anse is the intended recipient of Whitfield's confession, but Whitfield never speaks to him directly. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Refuses to enter the house, accepts a drink, and begins negotiating for a new team. ### [Armstid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Drives the wagon, mentions needing medicine in Mottson, and laments not leaving Cash at Armstid's. ### [Moseley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Stops the wagon at a house, expresses reluctance to be beholden, and apologizes to Cash for his broken leg. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Emerges from the house and helps hold Dewey Dell back during the fire. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Explains that he put the flat iron on Cash's leg to help, and blames Darl for the idea. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Drives the wagon; expresses regret for not having the grave dug in advance and complains about the delay. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Borrows spades from Mrs. Bundren; decides to commit Darl to the asylum. ### [Peabody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/dewey-dell) Anse pressures Dewey Dell for the ten dollars, accusing her of being a thief and ungrateful, and ultimately takes the money. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Returns with new teeth and a new wife, Mrs. Bundren, carrying a graphophone. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/anse_bundren - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters