In Section 39, we heard Addie say that Jewel will be her salvation, that is, he will save her "from the water and from the fire." Prior to her narration, we had the water episode in which Addie's coffin and body were rescued by Jewel. During these sections we have the fire episode, in which Jewel will risk his own life in order to save Addie from the burning barn.
Section 48, narrated by Darl, shows how Darl continues to taunt Jewel by questioning who he is. Jewel obviously knows that Darl is referring to the fact that he does not have a father and that he was the result of Addie's adulterous affair with Preacher Whitfield. These taunts partially justify Jewel's later attack upon Darl, and particularly the violence with which Jewel later attacks Darl. Of equal importance is why does Darl continue with these taunts? Is he in reality being only malicious and spiteful, or could it possibly be that he is trying to force Jewel to come to an understanding of his relationship with the family? There is a strong argument in favor of the latter since Darl has constantly been concerned with his own relationship to the family. Jewel has seemingly functioned outside the family, and by his taunts Darl hopes to force Jewel to recognize his involvement and hopes to force him to act as a member of the family rather than as an isolated individual.
This section also prepares us for the later action of removing the cast from Cash's leg. We observe here that Cash's foot is beginning to swell and that he is in pain, owing to the improvised cast.
