# Cash Bundren — As I Lay Dying character guide > Cash Bundren in As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cash, Vardaman Cash, Lucky Cash **First appearance:** 0019-cash ## Snapshot The eldest Bundren, a careful carpenter who builds his mother's coffin board by board and measures grief the way he measures lumber. ## Who they are Cash is the family's steady craftsman, the son who bevels the coffin so it will sit right and who endures a broken leg with the same quiet patience he brings to joinery. Where his brothers rage and brood, Cash absorbs pain and answers with 'I'm obliged,' a stoicism that reads as both strength and self-erasure. His meticulous care for Addie's coffin and his refusal to complain make him the moral center the family keeps overlooking. ## Relationships ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Brothers with a tense, unspoken rivalry, yet bound by shared duty and Addie's death. ### [Darl Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/darl_bundren) _family_ Close brothers; Cash is loyal and practical while Darl is introspective, creating a quiet bond. ### [Dewey Dell Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/dewey_dell_bundren) _family_ Brother and sister; Cash is protective and steady, while Dewey Dell is preoccupied with her own secret. ### [Vernon Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/vernon_tull) _friendship_ Mutual respect between a practical carpenter and a helpful neighbor; Tull admires Cash's skill. ### [Anse Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/anse_bundren) _family_ Father and son; Anse relies on Cash's labor and craftsmanship but shows little gratitude or affection. ### [Armstid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/armstid) _social_ Neighbor and helper; Armstid respects Cash's hard work and helps with the wagon, but keeps his distance. ### [Cora Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cora_tull) _social_ Neighbors; Cora approves of Cash's industriousness and quiet nature, unlike the rest of his family. ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Brothers with a tense, unspoken rivalry, yet bound by shared duty and Addie's death. ### [Darl Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/darl_bundren) _family_ Close brothers; Cash is loyal and practical while Darl is introspective, creating a quiet bond. ### [Jewel Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/jewel_bundren) _family_ Brothers with a tense, unspoken rivalry, yet bound by shared duty and Addie's death. ### [Darl Bundren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/darl_bundren) _family_ Close brothers; Cash is loyal and practical while Darl is introspective, creating a quiet bond. ### [Vernon Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/vernon_tull) _friendship_ Mutual respect between a practical carpenter and a helpful neighbor; Tull admires Cash's skill. ## In the story ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Working on Addie's coffin, fitting boards with skill and care. ### [Cora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cora) Heard working with a saw and adze, presumably building the coffin. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Heard sawing in the background; Darl wonders if Cash also experienced similar adolescent awakenings. ### [Jewel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/jewel) Mentioned as the one building the coffin under Addie's window, which Jewel finds unbearable. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Working on the coffin; focused on his carpentry. ### [Anse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/anse) Cash is referenced by Anse as having 'carpenter notions' and being unable to work due to a fall from a church, which Anse resents. ### [Peabody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/peabody) Heard sawing boards for the coffin; Addie calls for him as she nears death. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Continues working on the coffin with steady competence; he is the first to announce Addie's death and remains focused on his task. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Cash appears briefly, limping up the hill after falling off a church. He comments on the broken hitch-rein and hopes the others have passed Tull's, showing his practical concern. ### [Dewey Dell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/dewey-dell) Cash is sawing wood and eating supper, his arms covered in sawdust and sweat. He asks about Vardaman and remains focused on practical tasks. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Cash is building the coffin for Addie, and Vardaman repeatedly asks if he will nail it shut, highlighting Vardaman's fear of entrapment and finality. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Seen working on the coffin with his saw; his new auger is broken off in the coffin after Vardaman uses it. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Works tirelessly through the rain to build Addie's coffin, showing meticulous care and focus. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Narrator and craftsman, detailing the technical reasoning behind the coffin's construction. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Filling holes in the coffin, his leg broken from a fall on wet planks. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Cash is absorbed in the craftsmanship of the coffin, insisting on beveling the edges for balance despite pressure to finish quickly. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Hobbles behind, warning that the coffin is unbalanced and needing another hand on the hill. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Carries his toolbox and plans to stop at Tull's to work on a barn roof, despite Anse's objections. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Suggests leaving Jewel behind and that he might stay at Tull's. ### [Anse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/anse) Sitting with Darl; alerts Anse to Jewel's approach. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Drives the wagon, comments on the smell and the coffin's imbalance, and cleans mud from the box. ### [Samson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/samson) Sits on a plank across the tailgate, speaks briefly about reaching Jefferson, and declines Samson's offer of a bed. ### [Dewey Dell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/dewey-dell) His head turns slowly as they approach, his face described as pale, empty, sad, composed, and questioning. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Calmly assesses the situation and suggests a plan for walking across the bridge. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Discovers Jewel's secret and helps cover it up; shows concern for Jewel's well-being. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Seen turning the wagon around after the crossing, preparing for the ford. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Drives the wagon, focused on the balance of Addie's coffin and the logistics of the crossing. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Hollers instructions during the crossing, though his broken leg likely limits his ability to help directly. ### [Tull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/tull) Struggles to keep the coffin braced, goes underwater, and is later seen floating face-down. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Lies injured with a broken leg, vomiting; his tools are lost in the river and the family works to retrieve them. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Narrator of the chapter, focused on the technical details of building the coffin. ### [Addie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/addie) Mentioned as the first child Addie refused to breastfeed after his time was up. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Injured from the river crossing, vomiting, and concerned about his tools. ### [Armstid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/armstid) Lies on a pallet atop the coffin with a broken leg; his leg is set by Uncle Billy, and he asks for his tools, which Darl brings. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Lies on the box with a broken leg, enduring the bumps and refusing to slow the journey. ### [Moseley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/moseley) Lying on a quilt on top of the homemade coffin with a broken leg; the family buys cement to set it. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Lies in the wagon with a broken leg, insists he can last until Jefferson, and advises on the cement mixture. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Has a broken leg; Vardaman mentions fixing his leg so it doesn't hurt. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Suffers from his leg heating up under the cement; receives water from the family. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Lying on the bed with a sick leg, having it treated with water, says he feels fine. ### [Vardaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/vardaman) Lying awake with a broken leg that has turned black; the family attempts to remove a flat iron that was placed on it. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Lies in the wagon with a broken leg, his leg encased in cement; speaks briefly to restrain Jewel. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Narrator; reflects on Darl's arson, his own injury, and the family's decision to commit Darl. ### [Peabody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/peabody) Cash lies injured, having endured a broken leg treated with cement and a six-day wagon ride without springs, yet he minimizes his pain. ### [Darl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/darl) Cash lies on a pallet in the wagon-bed, eating a banana from a paper bag. ### [Cash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/chapters/cash) Narrates the chapter, reflecting on his leg injury, the graphophone, and Darl's absence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_i_lay_dying_se/characters/cash_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