Lafe

Character Key Number: 
690
Display Name: 
Lafe
Sort Name: 
Lafe
Ever Present in Yoknapatawpha?: 
Yes
Biography: 

As I Lay Dying provides very little information about Lafe, the father of Dewey Dell’s unborn baby. We do know that the day they had sex he was picking cotton in the fields with Dewey Dell, but whether he is a farmhand or simply working there because of his attraction to her isn't clear. Given the Bundrens' lack of money, however, the latter seems more likely. He gave Dewey Dell the $10 bill she carries to town to pay for an abortion. His name at least is very meaningful to her - "Lafe. Lafe. 'Lafe.' Lafe. Lafe." (62) - but it's not clear how much she means to him.

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