Towards the beginning of the book, I had very conflicted feelings about Anse, but as the book progressed I started disliking him more and more and the last few chapters resulted in my firm establishment on Team 'Not Anse' as Addie would say. I often didn't know whether to feel bad for him or criticize him. For example, does he have this truly horrible sickness where mere trickles of sweat can lead to death or is he just coming up with an excuse to avoid work?
I also supported his goal to get new teeth, because I felt bad that he couldn't eat "God's own victuals," and there was no reason for me not to hope that he got new teeth. But the last Dewey Dell chapter implies that he takes her $10 and uses it on new teeth and/or a shave, because not long after he takes the money, he returns clean-shaven and tooth-full. I really despised him for taking her money, because that's what she believes will get her an abortion. Anse basically guilt-trips Dewey Dell when he says, "I have fed you and sheltered you. I give you love and care, yet my own daughter, the daughter of my dead wife, calls me a thief over her mother's grave" (245-46). I can't argue with the fact that Dewey Dell does live in his house, but if Anse can't do work because then he'll sweat and then he'll die, is it really his food that she is eating (assuming that they grow their food)? Furthermore, where is the "love and care" that Anse claims he gives Dewey Dell? Unless Anse has been a great and loving father prior to the start of the book which seems unlikely since there is emotional disconnect between all the Bundren children and their father, he has no grounds to say that he has been loving and caring.
Anse is also being a hypocrite in this chapter, because he makes Dewey Dell feel bad by calling her "the daughter of my dead wife" and saying that she "calls me a thief over her mother's grave," but not so long ago, he found a new wife! It's more offensive to Addie (except I don't think Addie would care that much) for Anse to find a new wife before he's even buried his dead one than for Dewey Dell to accuse him of being a thief over "her mother's grave." Then Anse goes even lower by saying, "It was lucky for you you died, Addie" (246). Again he evokes the recent death of Dewey Dell's mother to guilt-trip her. I feel so bad for Dewey Dell, because she's struggling to explain the source of the money while trying to defend herself, because Anse is making her feel bad. Definitely Team 'Not Anse' right now.
As is just about everyone else from our class it seems. Yah I found the Dewey Dell/ anse scene really infuriating. I hate those super passive aggressive tactics some people try to pull if they want something; if you want it and are going to take it regardless of how I feel, at least don't be a damn coward while doing it! That guilt-trip sh*t is just annoying. Definitely didn't make me like Anse very much.
ReplyDeleteI had the same feeling of liking Anse more at the beginning of the book rather than at the end. In the beginning, Anse was a lil tottering (not so) old man who was just trying to do his best. He loved his wife so much (even if she didn't love him) he was trying to fulfill his dead wife's wishes. But as I read to the last few pages, it seemed as though his intentions had changed. He started acting more for himself, and started to push others down to get to the top.
ReplyDeleteYeah I my opinion of Anse definitely went down as the book progressed, and the end of the book was really frustrating for me, as it seemed that Anse was the only one who got what he wanted out of the trip to Jefferson, even though he was probably the only one who didn't deserve it. In doing so, he also exploited other people, taking Dewey Dell's money as you said and unnecessarily trading Jewel's horse, for example.
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