In Darl's chapter (128-136), we learn more of Jewel and of the tensions that characterize his relationship with the rest of the Bundrens, especially Anse. In this chapter, we learn that Jewel had once gone behind his family's back to buy a nice horse, slipping out every night to work on Mr. Quick's land, and subsequently letting his duties at home fall to the wayside, much to the dismay of his worried mother Addie.  When Jewel's whereabouts are finally uncovered, he is met with scorn by his father for "[taking] the work from [his] flesh and blood and [buying] a horse with it (136)." His actions are defended by Cash, who could be said to have been a victim of Jewel's deceit, as he was often left to up Jewel's slack around the house: "'It's all right,' Cash said. 'He earned the money[...] He did it single handed, working at night by lantern. I saw him. So I don't reckon that horse will cost anybody anything except Jewel. I don't reckon we need to worry (135).'"

Even after Cash introduces some logic to the situation, Anse is still angry, which leads me to believe that something else is at stake: Anse's position within his household. When it is still believed that Jewel has taken "a spell of sleeping (128)," Addie dotes over him, dispersing his household duties, taking on some herself "when pa wasn't there (130)," and hiding special food for him. The fact that she does these things in secret, "when pa [isn't] there," suggests that Addie fears Anse's reactions to the special attention she gives to Jewel. Anse feels jealous towards his own children over the affection of his wife, displaced from his role as Addie's husband.

Additionally, Jewel, through his hard work, overturns Anse's belief that "nowhere in this sinful world can a honest, hardworking man profit (110)." Anse leaves his fate largely up to God; he is content in his self-pity and defeat by that which he cannot control. He is described by Samson as being "a lazy man (114)" who seemed to delight in any setback which gave the impression of a divine struggle: "And like he would be kind of proud of whatever come up to make the moving or the settling still look hard (114)." Frankly, Anse is incompetent, incapable, and lacks the enterprise to take things into his own hands. He is in denial of his own incompetency as a father and as a husband, owing his shortcomings to the injustices of "the Lord's Earth (110)." When Jewel disproves the very notion off of which Anse thrives by achieving some sort of gain through hard, honest work, Anse feels threatened, and, in turn, lashes out at Jewel.

-Lauren Gore