Throughout this novel by William Faulkner, there are many characters. Each character having their own role and their own meaning to the story. Although i had Darl, i guess the "main" character, i also had a character whose role may not seem large, but in fact tells us a lot about not only himself but how he helps the Bundren family.
Moseley is a man from the town of Mottson. Generally characterizing him, he's a man that owns a drug store and sells products such as birth control and things like that. We know this because Dwewy Dell enters the store and he observes her, and later when talking to her, asks her what she needs, "You want something to stop it?" (201) meaning that he thought she wanted something to stop her period. But we later find out that his character contributes to Dwewy Dell's choice of giving life or destroying a life. This is important because we can see that Moseley's character is something of a father figure that Dwewy Dell has never had.
Moseley is a man that is very righteous. He believes in God. We know this because when Dwewy Dell explains (well, not really explains but tells? him) to him that she needs something to stop whats "already stopped" meaning, her period has already been stopped and that means she's prego. (sry about that term..) and so then we can also imply that she wants to abort the baby. Not only that but that Lafe has given her money to get the abortion. Also, we find out that Lafe has had encounters with Moseley and this can infer that he's (Lafe) a person who goes around. But going back to Moseley, he objects to the abortion. He tells Dwewy Dell that she should take her money and go back and "tell your pa, if you have one, and let him make somebody buy you a wedding license." because he believes that one needs to be married enable to be married. Hence, when he first saw Dwewy, one of the first questions he asked her was "You are not married, are you?". Not only that but Dwewy continues to try to persuade him to give her something to abort that child but he says that "...Me, a respectable druggist, that's kept store and raised a family and been a church-member for fifty-six years in this town. I'm a good mind to tell your folks myself, if i can just find who they are." (202).
Moseley strongly believes that Life is something that is God's choice. He tells Dwewy to "get that notion out of your head. The Lord gave you what you have, even if He did use the devil to do it; you let Him take it away from you if it's His will to do so. You go back to Lafe and you and him take that ten dollars and get married with it"(203). This quote alone tells us a lot about Moseley. He strongly is family oriented and believes that even though you didnt want this and you didnt plan this, it was something you did and you need to go on with it, but at the same time, he says that when he looked at her, he saw how hard their life was but that it was no excuse for sin, and that "life wasn't made to be easy on folks". (202)
Overall, i like Moseley a lot. He's very down-to-earth and has morals. He stands for what he believes in. And even though his character is tiny, he plays a huge role in sort of parenting Dwewy because he asked her where her mother was, and telling her to go talk to her parents about it because they would help her make the right decisions. He's sort of lecturing her while she's in the store but what he says is what's real. He's very loving towards her because he sees what she's trying to do and hearing that the father to her child(?) is trying to help her get rid of it, he is very upset but like, Moseley is very persistant. He tries his best to try to get her to really think about her choice. But he refuses to do what or to go against his ethics which tells us that he doesnt care about what others say about him but all he really wants to do is help those in need.
Moseley is a cool character. i like him. Lol. ;) didn't think i'd write so much. aha.
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I have Moseley as a character too, and you're right- eventhough Moseley is a minor character, he plays a very major role in the life of Dewey Dell and her baby. We can see a definite religious reference to Moseley and I like how you included the fact that he is sort of a father figure because he is very religious and denies Dewey Dell's abortion. You can also see another religious reference, which I don't think you included, in Moseleys name because you can see a root word "Moses" in his name. You did a good job in characterizing his role in the novel and how he interacts with Dewey Dell. I think he's a key part in Dewey Dell's life especially religiously because he says, "The Lord gave you what you have even if he did use the devil to do it; you let Him take it away from you if it's His will to do so" (188). Showing how Moseley is sort of the authority figure over her having the baby or not and putting God in the situation eventhough that family isn't very religious at all. And the fact that He advises her to "go back to Lafe and you and him take that ten dollars and get married with it" (188) shows his father figure role. Overall, well said!
Aside from the Bundren family i would say that Moseley was my favorite character. He played his role the way he was suppose to. He wasn't a poor excuse of a father that Anse was. He wasn't like Cora Tull a deeply religious person who is so quick to judge someone else. He wasn't corrupt like Whitfield who is suppose to be a man of the clothe bit then commits adultery.
Moseley is a druggist and as a druggist he advises Dewey Dell to do the right thing with some christian and father like qualities.
Fadwa mentions Moseley's root word Moses and Faulkner names Moseley well. Moses lead the people out of Egypt into a better life and as a druggist Moseley tries to lead Dewey Dell in the right direction as well.
*GOOD ANALYSIS*
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