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Despite being a peripheral character, Vernon Tull’s presence in the novel allows Faulkner to introduce many key themes and dynamics that will play out as the Bundrens travel to Jefferson. Vernon and his wife, Cora, are the Bundren’s neighbors, and while they are not wealthy by any means, they use the additional resources they do have to help Anse and Addie. Between Vernon’s generous nature and the fact that the Bundrens always seem to be struggling, he becomes a steady figure in their lives. The six sections that feature his perspective, all of which occur before the family arrives at Armstid’s, reinforce this idea as he has the most narrative time of any of the non-Bundren characters. Vernon’s status as an outsider allows him to offer unique insight into the lives of the Bundrens, hinting that their motivations may not be as genuine as they claim them to be. When Addie is finally laid to rest in her coffin, for example, Vernon quips that “she has her reward in being free of Anse Bundren.” This comment alludes to the strained relationship between Addie and Anse and calls into question the believability of Anse’s devotion to fulfilling her final wish. Vernon’s involvement in the scene at the river also foreshadows the absurdity of the Bundrens’ journey to Jefferson, especially as he attempts to serve as a voice of reason. Despite his warnings about crossing the river, they insist on doing so and fail spectacularly as a result.
Vernon may play an important role in illuminating the idiosyncrasies of the Bundren family, but Faulkner also spends time developing his character as an individual as well. He is a Christian man who feels a sense of duty to help his neighbors, although he also has a tendency to judge them for their behaviors. This quality is one he shares with, and possibly learned from, his wife. Vernon spends multiple paragraphs contemplating God’s influence and judgement, and he ultimately ends up agreeing with Cora’s faith-driven claims about others. The resulting contrast between his critiques of the Bundrens and the generosity he shows them is just one of the many ways in which Faulkner explores the dissonance between words and actions, a key theme of the novel. By incorporating this dynamic into the world outside of the Bundren household, Faulkner suggests that it is not merely a marker of a struggling family. Instead, anyone is capable of embodying this kind of inauthentic persona.
