Stereotypes Of Women In Addie Bundren's As I Lay Dying

It is already known that women are generally seen as being inferior to men in many different cultures around the world. Women 's lives are completely controlled by men emotionally and physically. Not only do women actually experience these things in real life, but they are also portrayed this way in literature. They are rarely given the main character in literary works, but when they do receive a main role, the woman is usually depicted as dead, evil(a villain), incompetent, or unfulfilled. In Addie Bundren 's case in as I Lay Dying, she is dead for most of the novel, and we only hear about her through her thoughts while she is dead. In Addie 's case, her character is portrayed as revengeful and resistant, yet again another stereotype of women …show more content…
She neglected her students in giving them a proper education and also in caring for themselves properly. From this we can already see that pursuing motherhood and becoming a wife was not the best choice for her. Her marriage with Anse shows why she is revengeful and unhappy with her marriage. Addie only marries Anse so that she can have a reason to feel something real and have someone to care for her. Anse is none of those things, and Addie realizes that she has no connection to him. He is a man who has nothing to offer her, he does not take care take care of himself, he has no motivation to do anything with his life, and all these things lead Addie to her deathbed. Addie tells Anse, “If you 've got any womenfolks, why in the world don 't they make you get your hair cut... and make you hold your shoulders up” (Faulkner, 171). By saying this Addie is revealing her belief that a woman can change, or make a difference in a mans life, but she has failed to do so. Anse has no desire to change his ways or any motivation to do anything with his life, he relies on God,Addie, and surrounding neighbors to take care of