Halie praises Ansel because of her two sons, Bradley and Tilden’s shortcomings. Ansel is Halie and Dodge’s dead son that we only know of from Halie. Whenever Tilden or Bradley is mentioned, Halie praises Ansel. While talking about her disappointment of her two current sons Halie said “When Tilden turned out to be so much trouble I put all my hopes on Ansel...He was the smartest probably...Smarter than Bradley, that’s for sure (26).” Halie cannot get over the magnificent son she lost, as she thinks that he is superior to her two boys. Tilden was once the hope of the family as an all-american halfback, but his career got jeopardized by getting into trouble. While the other son Bradley cut one of his legs off with a chainsaw. Halie believed that
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The rest of the family has been in despair, and Halie believed that Ansel was the one that was going to save the family. The family's farm is in shambles and they are all stuck in the past with the killing of the baby. While responding to Dodge talking about the buried child Halie says “Ansel would’ve stopped him!...He was a hero! A man! A whole man! What’s happened to the men in this family?! Where are the men?! (110)” Halie believes that with the absence of Ansel there are no men in the house. Dodge is an alcoholic who sits and moans on his couch all day, Bradley can’t function with one leg, and Tilden isn’t responsible enough to behave on his own. This would leave Ansel as the man of the family, and the perfect figure that Halie claims he was. Earlier in the play, Halie says, “He could’ve earned lots of money. Lots and lots of money...He would’ve taken care of us, too. He would’ve seen to it that we were repaid (26-27)” Because there is no one else in the family providing a steady income, she thought that Ansel was the most capable of making money to provide for the family. It can be assumed that he was a star basketball player due to Haley's comments about him, and the money he would’ve earned from that is far higher than anyone else in the family. The family's farm has not been yielding crop which leaves Dodge and Haley with little money, and neither son provides. This would’ve left Ansel with the responsibility to provide for the family and give them hope.
Ansel is not a real person, and he’s what Halie wished of for the buried child. It’s never made clear throughout the play that Ansel really existed because Haley is the only one to mention Ansel, and whenever Ansel is mentioned no one replies or someone questions what she says about him. While talking about Ansel, Halie says “He was a hero…A genuine hero. Brave. Strong. And very intelligent. (27)” Tilden responds with “Ansel was a hero?
The rest of the family has been in despair, and Halie believed that Ansel was the one that was going to save the family. The family's farm is in shambles and they are all stuck in the past with the killing of the baby. While responding to Dodge talking about the buried child Halie says “Ansel would’ve stopped him!...He was a hero! A man! A whole man! What’s happened to the men in this family?! Where are the men?! (110)” Halie believes that with the absence of Ansel there are no men in the house. Dodge is an alcoholic who sits and moans on his couch all day, Bradley can’t function with one leg, and Tilden isn’t responsible enough to behave on his own. This would leave Ansel as the man of the family, and the perfect figure that Halie claims he was. Earlier in the play, Halie says, “He could’ve earned lots of money. Lots and lots of money...He would’ve taken care of us, too. He would’ve seen to it that we were repaid (26-27)” Because there is no one else in the family providing a steady income, she thought that Ansel was the most capable of making money to provide for the family. It can be assumed that he was a star basketball player due to Haley's comments about him, and the money he would’ve earned from that is far higher than anyone else in the family. The family's farm has not been yielding crop which leaves Dodge and Haley with little money, and neither son provides. This would’ve left Ansel with the responsibility to provide for the family and give them hope.
Ansel is not a real person, and he’s what Halie wished of for the buried child. It’s never made clear throughout the play that Ansel really existed because Haley is the only one to mention Ansel, and whenever Ansel is mentioned no one replies or someone questions what she says about him. While talking about Ansel, Halie says “He was a hero…A genuine hero. Brave. Strong. And very intelligent. (27)” Tilden responds with “Ansel was a hero?