As I Lay Dying presents its readers with a multitude of different characters. No two characters are the same, each has a distinct personality and voice. One extremely distinct character is Darl Bundren. Darl is strange, distant, and extremely sadistic. Throughout the story, Darl tortures his siblings, Dewy Dell and Jewel and he doesn’t seem to have any motivation behind it .

“It was Darl, the one that folks say is queer, lazy, pottering around about the place no better than Anse…(p. 24)” Early on in the novel, we learn that society views Darl in a certain way. Cora, who is not a reliable narrator but gives the impression of being involved in the town gossip states herself, it is Darl whom the town finds strange. One of the characters who is at war with Darl is Jewel. It is stated often Addie, the dying mother, favors Jewel. Addie and Jewel share a deeper connection which everyone in the family is aware of, “He is a head taller than any of the rest of us, always was. I told them that’s why ma always whipped him and petted him more. Because he was peakling around the house more. That’s why she named him Jewel l told them (p.18).” On what is believed to be Addie’s last day, Darl convinces Anse, he and Jewel must go to town to make three dollars. Money is important to Anse, because of this Darl knows Anse will say the boys need to go to town knowing Jewel will want to be by Addie’s side and she will want Jewel there. Dewey Dell notices Darl’s actions and questions him about it. “‘When is she going to die?’ I say. “Before we get back,’ he says. ‘Then why are taking Jewel?’ I say. ‘I want him to help me load,’ he says (p.28).” While on the road, Darl taunts Jewel, “‘Jewel’ I say, ‘do you know that Addie Bundren is going to die? Addie Bundren is going to die (p.40)?” Darl some how seems to take enjoyment from the pain he is causing Jewel. He also shows no remorse to his mother’s death.  

It is mentioned by most characters in the book in reference to Darl’s oddities. Dewey Dell says, “And I did not think that Darl would, that sits at the supper table with his eyes gone further than the food and the lamp, full of the land dug out of his skull and the holes filled with distance beyond the land (p.27).” Darl is often  to referred to as staring out into a distance. He is on a different plane from the other characters and is never fully present. In one scene, Darl is the one who tells the readers about Addie dying and the events occuring at home. The question is, how does Darl know what is happening.

As I lay Dying is a novel with many interesting characters. One of the most controversial is Darl Bundren. He is a distant, pensive character who takes enjoyment from causing those around him pain.