Lafe works as a farmer on the Bundrens’ plot, and is the father of Dewey Dell’s unborn child. He never appears in the novel physically, but is mentioned incessantly by Dewey Dell. Lafe gives Dewey Dell ten dollars, which he claims will get her an abortion, in an apparent effort to cut himself off from her.
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Lafe Character Timeline in As I Lay Dying
The timeline below shows where the character Lafe appears in As I Lay Dying. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
7. Dewey Dell
...next to Addie on her deathbed, Dewey Dell reflects on the experience harvesting cotton with Lafe, a laborer on the Bundrens' farm. She recalls her confused and confusing memory of how...
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Dewey Dell then has the realization that Darl knows about her experience with Lafe, saying, "He said he knew without the words like he told me that ma is...
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10. Darl
...Dewey Dell this question, Darl expresses his awareness of what happened between his sister and Lafe, though she won't admit it. Darl then notices the sun begin to set "like a...
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14. Dewey Dell
...ideal and unrealistic world. She claims, "I would let him come in between me and Lafe, like Darl did." Dewey Dell is distracted by the sound of Cash's saw, but complies...
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...She tells it to wait, still focused on finding Vardaman. She passes the stall, repeating Lafe's name to herself until she hears sounds from within the stall. It is Vardaman. She...
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58. Dewey Dell
Anse spots Dewey Dell's ten dollars, initially given to her by Lafe and still left over from the failed abortion attempt. Anse asks her about where she...
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