Personal Narrative : People Need People

However, Jewel has a much different view of their journey. Jewel sees it as a way to make up to his mother for not being there when she passed (Faulkner 48). Therefore, he does everything in his power to get her there . . . including running into a burning barn and nearly drowning to save her coffin (Faulkner 154 and 221). These acts, although seemingly heroic, arise as truly selfish and shallow. These shallow acts can exist through Jewels “pale eyes” which look “like wood” (Faulkner 4). This simile compares Jewel to a simple substance which mirrors how his actions towards his mother are self-absorbed. Wood is two dimensional and shallow. When Jewels refuses to let the past go and continuously holds on to the idea of upsetting his mother, he in turn works for his own benefit. Jewel seeks his mother's approval out of self absorption and not out of love; he acts shallow and hollow like wood. In turn, Jewel ignores his siblings and continues to push towards

Jewel is very different from the others when it comes to his family affairs. He dislikes

“Come here, my love. The man was nothing, you’re just troubled by what happened to mommy. He’s gone now, he really is. Let us make a hot bath for you and wash your mouth.”

"Let's keep it simple. Do you want to stay here, or should we go somewhere quieter?”

For example, when Anse complains about having to feed Jewel’s horse, Jewel angrily, “looked at pa, his eyes paler than ever. “He won’t ever eat a mouthful of yours,” he said. “Not a mouthful. I’ll have to kill him first. Don’t you never think it. Don’t you never (32 136).” Jewel shows no respect for Anse due to his hatred toward him. Jewel hates Anse in spite of his isolation. In addition, Darl explains how Addie was concerned about Jewel saying, “Ma wanted to get the doctor, but pa didn’t want to spend the money without it was needful (32 130).” This shows the difference in Jewel’s relationships between his mother and Anse. Jewel probably feels like Addie was the only trustworthy person he loved. When Addie died, Jewel felt he lost the only person he respected.

Darl and Jewel also have a complicated relationship. They don’t exactly get along all the time. Darl begrudges Jewel, considering Jewel and Addie’s relationship. Darl wants acceptance and love from Addie, which he doesn’t receive, and he takes it out on Jewel, although it really isn’t his fault.

“I am here. He could not take you from Me. Let them take the house! You still have Me! You win! You win! It’s too much for you. It has become a burden. I have another house for you. I’m tearing you down, to build you back up. You will start from here, here, and then here.”

Quote: “You’re trying to take him away! I don’t know how you’re going about it. What do you think you’re doing?” (29).

“You have me, Maria.” Anita reassures her, “and that is all you need. I understand that life is tough right now but we’ll make it through Maria, we’ll make it through together. We’ll be here for each other.”

“She was ma wife.” “ and now she’s dead, she seemed to be the only person that ever loved me.” “ and that’s hard for a fella like

I did not even ask him for what he could have given me: not-Anse. That was my duty to him, to not ask that, and that duty I fulfilled”(191). She treats Jewel like he is special because he is not connected to Anse and his family. She gives Jewel the extra attention and begins to pass on her entitlement, which poisons him. The pride affects Jewel to such an extent, that he becomes

In other words, she says it’s good you can’t love because women would only be troubled by your infatuation, and as for myself I’d rather be listening to my dog bark than listen to you or any man confess his love to me.

He says that he has to save his mother from family. Even though Jewel acts violently, the actions he takes are full of love to

Although Jewel has always felt very different from his family members he has always had a strong love for his mother, although it is not perceived that way. Barnes points out, “In the episode where he exchanges his horse for the team of mules to replace the team destroyed in the river, Jewel reveals the extent of his active devotion to his mother, which itself meets the needs of the entire family.” (Barnes, “Faulkner’s Jewel: Logos and the Word Made Flesh”). When Addie’s body was in danger Jewel was the child to act although he wanted nothing to do with the rest of the family. Jewel is dealing with his grief for his mother by completely taking it on which is why Jewel is experiencing the most pain. Without Addie, Jewel now feels that he has

"Unless you will love me, sweetheart, I will die." And he held her tight around