For these people, therefore, in spite of all justifications for Darl's act, the mere fact that he has destroyed property so essential to the management of a farm would automatically cause many people to view him as being partially insane. Thus it is up to the individual reader to determine the exact nature of Darl's sanity and insanity. The final justification for Darl's act is rather ironic and is represented by the repeated refrain in this section of the strong smell of the body. We must remember that Addie has now been dead for over eight days: the stench must be overwhelming.
The implication in this section is that Vardaman saw Darl set the barn on fire. We must project that Dewey Dell's motivations here are to get Darl declared insane, and then Darl would have no chance to tell Anse that she is pregnant. This reasoning, of course, is rather ironic since it will be impossible for her to conceal her pregnancy for many more months. But she still hopes to get the abortion in Jefferson.
The actual narration of the barn-burning is again given by Darl. The contrast between Darl's sensitive and rather quiet narration and Jewel's furious and determined actions is important. Jewel's entire personality is captured in the desperate flights in and out the barn. It is only through violent actions that Jewel is able to express himself. In contrast, it is only through words that Darl is most able to express himself. Therefore, Darl's narrating of this section captures the essence of Jewel's violent personality.
