Eyes

Throughout the novel I noticed that Faulkner seemed to focus on eyes: Jewel: "his pale eyes like wood set in his wooden face..." p 4 "His eyes are as pale as two bleached chips in his face." p 145. Whenever Faulkner refers to Jewels eyes, not only does he mention how pale they are, but he compares them wood. What is the significance of this? I understand that he is pointing out Jewel's pale eyes, unlike the rest of his family, but why wood?

Eula Tull (and this is the only mention of her in the book): "When she finds me watching her, her eyes go blank." p 9

Dewey Dell: "One of them black eyed ones that look like she'd as soon put a knife in you if you two-timed her." p. 242

I noticed other instances when Faulkner specifically described people's eyes. So my question is why?

I think it may have something to do with Faulkner's style of writing--just as he wanted us to see things through the characters' eyes, I think he wanted us to look into their eyes, to examine them.

Thoughts? Conclusions? 1204079180

I think that this fits in perfectly with Faulkner's style of writing, and I do agree that he not only wants us to see from their perspective, but also wants us to see that perspective and what it is. It also fits in with the whole theme of perception because it is the eyes that allow to see. But I don't mean see as in just to look but to actually have an opinion on what we are viewing. Cash's inflection on the nature of madness was really a commentary of our perception of others around us and even ourselves, which is why he not only wants us to see from the point of view of each character, but to also be aware of the nature of their perception which is so important because sometimes our perceptions are wrong because we lack certain knowledge that would make our judgments more fair.1204080053

It has been said that the way you view yourself is similar to the way you view others, or that you can not love others until you love yourself first, and even questioning what the world would look like through someone else's eyes. Perception. That is alot of what Faulkner is referring to, but also the individuals eyes who are taking something, someone, or some event into his or her perception. It is about the person who posseses the eyes that are doing the narration. Eyes are also said to be the windows into a person's soul. So if eyes can tell you so much about a person, than a person's eyes would also be the way he or she views others. The way he or she views the world. 1204082106

I think it is so true when people say that even when your face doesn't show emotion, your eyes can betray how you are feeling. The characters in Faulkner's book are often confusing and sometimes it is hard to tell what they are really thinking. I believe that Faulkner used these descriptions of eyes so that the characters could seem more real to us. Like others have said, knowing the expression and changes in thier eyes allows us to more deeply understand that specific character. Looking into someone's eyes also allows us to see how they view some one else, even if the expression only lasts for an instant. 1204083223

I agree with MBe and that our eyes can betray how we are feeling. I bring this up because it has some relevance, in photo shoots, the photographers would rather see someone smile with their eyes than actually have a smile. (in some cases). Our eyes can say more about how we are feeling or what we are thinking than we could ever say. I can recall a time when I was hurt and I would smile to everyone else, but my one friend came up to me and said, "something is wrong. I know it is. Your eyes just don't look the same." There is something in the way our eyes glaze over, or the way we look off in another direction that causes someone else to realize there is more than meets the eye. When Faulkner describes each character's eyes, he understands that there is "more than meets the eye" (hahaha). He knows that our eyes can reveal hidden secrets or our identity even if we don't mean to. 1204085226

I marked numerous times throughout the novel times in which Faulkner describes character's eyes in response to certain scenarios.

Jewel's eyes are constantly mentioned to be pale and like wood (17, 18). My only interpretation of the wood is that, yes, Jewel is considered hard is comparison to other characters, but he has his softer side, too. Wood is not too hard nor too soft. However, this idea seems to be contradicted later in the novel in which his eyes are described as "marbles" (101, 145), and his face is at one point described "like a rock" (191). Could it just be that Jewel's behavior and spirit is hardening?

Addie's eyes are said to be extinguished, like lamps, when the life leaves them and she dies.

Page 108 has a myriad of references to eyes: //Cash looks up on the road quietly, his head turning as we pass it like an owl's head, his face composed. Pa looks straight ahead, humped. Dewey Dell looks at the road too, then she looks back at me, her eyes watchful and repudiant..."//

I find that the eyes of these characters literally are the windows to their souls. Their eyes speak for their emotions when they cannot find the words. Also, part of the reason I think Faulkner specifically describes eyes is because of the lack of other physical description of characters; we do not know what they look like. All we have to go off of is how their faces are read and what their eyes say for them. 1204092318

I, too, think that the eyes tell a lot about a person. However, I'm still a bit confused--specifically on the description of Jewel's eyes. They are always described as "wooden." I never really understood what this description meant--I couldn't really picture Jewel's eyes as wooden. I think the first impression I got was that they were unmoving, almost like frozen. Does anyone else have an idea of what Faulkner was intending when he used the word "wooden?"

I also think that description of Dewey Dell's eyes was powerful. I think Dewey Dell kept in her anger, but just by looking at her eyes, one could see that anger ready to burst. Dewey Dell finally released her anger on Darl as they were taking him away. I think that pent up anger was what gave her eyes that ferocious quality. It was so powerful, multiple people thought her eyes could kill. 1204092622

I also noticed the reference to eyes, although the ones that stuck out to me the most were about Dewey Dell. When other characters tried to persuade Anse to simply bury Addie closer to home, Dewey Dell is described as giving looks that could kill. The narrator kept saying that if her look could kill, he wouldn't be standing there anymore. I took this to mean that Dewey Dell's anger was portrayed through her eyes. Dewel Dell is angry and worried that they won't make it to town. As far as Jewel's eyes being described as wooden, the only thing that I could think of was the qualities of wood compared with those of Jewel. Wood is typically seen as dependable and enduring. It doesn't change very quickly. I think that Jewel is similar. Throughout the book, he is a stable character. The family can count on him--even when he seems to have deserted them, he comes back. Any other ideas? 1204149783

I think the eyes give us a good idea as to who that person is and what he or she values. Dewey Dell seems to really care about her mother and getting her to the best burial place possible and she is the type of person that will be angry if something like this does not work out as she plans. She conveys this not only in her words and actions, but I am assuming her facial expression and of course her eyes. She is only able to solidify her point by the look of her eyes. Jewel is another example of eyes telling his personality. Jewel seems to be a very flat character; he changes little if any throughout the story, but that does not make him the best character. Just because he is flat does not mean that he is level headed; he is distant and somewhat selfish. This selfishness can probably be contributed to the fact that his mother had always given him the most attention and perhaps had spoiled him. Jewel is described as having eyes like wood. I see wood as being hard and tough to get through. This describes Jewel because he is so rigid and unchangable.1204158721

I noticed another significance with the eyes that others may not have yet -- the majority of the eye quotes are made by Darl. We already know Darl has some strange ability to know what's going on when he's not there, to communicate wordlessly with Dewey Dell, and to find the truth by a single glance. Maybe these eyes are part of how he knows, since eyes have long been referred to as the gateway to the inner self, the soul. I do agree with the others in saying that eyes are definitely definitive of the person they describe. They reveal something about their character. Are they hard and piercing, soft and mellow, blank, etc.? It is quite possible to read more into a character's eye color or characteristics than actually exist, but I do agree that Jewel's wooden eyes signify the strength of his character. Jewel's eyes in particular seem to the most referred to. 1204159335

I agree, the eyes are an issue of contention in this book and I think it's mainly as a sort of link between the mind and the world. If Faulkner compares Jewel's eyes to wood, than it's almost like his eyes are a barrier or are opaque so that Jewel begins to ignore the world or at least become disenchanted with it. Each member of the family seems so isolated or apart from the others, and we can directly witness this with the constant switching of narrators and seeing the world through their eyes. So maybe when Faulkner is in the midst of using one character as narrator he can hint at the mental states of the others by commenting on the quality of their eyes. At least that's what I think, is this valid?1204163620

AWr, you mentioned that we have no other descriptions of how the characters look except their eyes. I found this very interesting. I mean, we know that Darl is shorter than his brother, and things like that, but we don't have really any solid physical descriptions of the characters besides their eyes. Why is this, do you think?

I think it may be something to the effect of Faulkner doesn't want us to pre-judge these characters based on things like skin color or beauty or anything like that.. I think he wanted us to judge them only by their actions, and their souls, which is why he would use many descriptions of their eyes. Am I way off base here? 1204176330

I'd like to bring up a few other references to eyes. To start, Faulkner mentions a certain "look" Cash gets in his eyes when something about carpentry is mentioned. Most importantly, though, Darl's the one who's known to have "queer eyes." In conjunction with Allie's thoughts, I wonder why the one with the weirdest and most noticeable eyes and looks is the one who best understands people by looking into their eyes. Maybe it's the fact that he best expresses himself through his own eyes that allows him to see a person's character in theirs. Any other ideas?1204245797

NVa, I think you're on to something there. One's eyes are one of the best indicators of someone's emotions and personality. Body expression are much more vital to one's communication with another than verbal expression. People's eyes are much more honest than what they say also. Its a proven fact that if you're lieing you actually look one way, but if you're telling the truth you look the other way. So, I believe the focus on eyes reveals much truth about those particular characters, and because Darl has the clear, queer eyes, he is the one that is able to see the truth in others. Any other comments? 1204252019

Right, someone said that, "The eyes are the window to the soul," like AHa mentioned, and perhaps Faulkner used that idea to give the reader a better understanding, like NVa was saying. As for the woody description of Jewel, I didn't think that his eyes were unmoving, but instead simply thought of the color. Is that wrong? I'm sure we aren't supposed to take anything that an author takes the time to work into the details at face value, there is usually an underlying meaning. When I read about Jewel's wooden face, though, I got the image of Jewel being set in his ways. I felt like his jaw was set, clenched, even. Maybe that can relate to how he is so stubborn and does his own thing. 1204256107