Vardaman - Chapter 51 Summary

Gillespie's still-burning barn has collapsed. However, Addie's body is safe and some of the men there carry Addie to a space under an apple tree.

They find that Cash's foot has turned black, so Mr. Gillespie breaks the cement off with a hammer. However, the pain is so bad that it knocks Cash unconscious. Meanwhile, Dewey Dell is applying medicine to Jewel's severely burned back.

Leaving the house, Vardaman goes out to look for Darl. Vardaman finds him lying on top of Addie's coffin, crying. Vardaman tries to comfort him by telling him that Addie's body is safe because of Jewel, but Darl just keeps crying.

Vardaman - Chapter 51 Analysis

Darl is crying because he failed to destroy Addie's body. Vardaman, however, does not understand this.