William Faulkner As I Lay Dying

Marissa Dow 1/28/19

Final Assessment

J O D Y 

 
 
 
The bell rang and the door swung open to reveal a pretty little thing--definitely country and

definitely in trouble. When I told Skeet about her, he seemed a little too interested, but that’s none

of my business now is it. He told me to keep watch. I wanted to tell him no, I really did, but I

figured he would do no harm to the little lady even when he brought her down to the cellar.

Therefore, I walked outside and peeked down toward the post office. Nothing yet, but as the clock

ticked on my nerves got the best of me. I opened the door and yelled down cellar. “You better get

her out from back there before the old man comes,” I yell.

I tried to get him to talk, to tell me what he was doing, but he’s a stubborn man and I got

nowhere. He told me to go away, so I stood by the door and listened. I heard when he told her to

come back at ten o'clock, and I knew that I had to help her.

I’m coming back tonight. I won’t let him hurt another girl. I’m coming back tonight. She

won’t be his next victim. I’m coming back tonight.

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William Faulkner As I Lay Dying

 
J O D Y 

 
 
There was a little boy sitting on the curb when I got to the door. I asked him 

what he was doing there, but he just sat and mumbled to himself. I got to the door and 

it was locked. I didn’t expect him to be this smart. I walked around back and tried the 

back door. It opened. I walked to the cellar door, but I was too late. She had already 

become another one of his victims. I swung open the door and he turned to face me. 

The little country girl bolted up the stairs behind me. He was furious, but the girl was 

safe. I left him there and followed her home. The little boy kept talking about bananas. 

What a weird little family. I believe they were called the Bundrens. 

  I decided to write a chapter in Jody’s perspective to give clarity to the story of 

what happened to Dewey Dell. It explains why Dewey Dell could have gotten away 

without paying and why MacGowan didn’t come after her. I interpreted Jody as a 

submissive character, but one with good morals. I included italics in thoughts and the 

repetition of phrases that have happened throughout the novel. He is the only 

character that knows and is willing to talk about what happened in the cellar. 

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