Character Analysis Of Anse Bundren Essay, Research Paper
A comprehensive analysis of the character of Anse Bundren
Anse Bundren is an unattractive elderly man, likely in his 1950s or 1960s. He has a poor posture and a hump on his back. His appearance suggests that he neglects grooming, with a scruffy beard and deeply wrinkled face. His skin isn’t sunburned, as he avoids spending much time in the hot sun. The most notable feature is his lack of teeth. Even in his youth, he had already begun showing signs of a hunchback. Addie mentions this in her chapter, questioning whether he had any female relatives who could help improve his posture.
There is limited information about Anse’s childhood or his upbringing, but it is possible to assume that he shares some similarities with his father. When he proposed to Addie, he was living alone on his own small farm.
Anse possesses a timid aspect. He mustered up the courage to approach Addie by repeatedly passing by her workplace. Eventually, he mustered the necessary valor and subtly proposed marriage during their initial encounter. He evaded the topic but managed to convey his intentions. When Addie inquired about his familial connections, his response was “That’s why I sought you out.”
When Anse was twenty-three, he became ill and fainted while sweating. Since then, he has developed a belief that if he ever sweats again, it will lead to his death. Consequently, he avoids any strenuous work and never sweats to ensure his survival. While his neighbors perceive him as lazy, Anse is completely oblivious to this possibility. Despite his friends’ claims of having taken care of him and helping him for years, Anse seems unaware of their assistance. This indifference towards others and their emotions is another aspect of Anse’s personality.
Anse is incredibly selfish and greedy, but he always finds ways to rationalize his behavior. One example is when he stole Dewey Dell’s
The person mentioned in the text is asking for money to get false dentition. He believes he should have dentition to enjoy good food and considers this as the reason for being frugal and taking advantage of others. He wouldn’t even purchase a shovel to dig a hole in the ground for Addie. He hopes that there are Christian people around who may assist him, as if people were placed on Earth for that purpose.
to help Anse Bundren. He didn’t even bring his wife to Jefferson only.
The reason Anse wanted his deceased wife’s dentures was because it was her dying wish. I highly doubt that Anse would have carried around a dead body for two weeks if he had a complete set of teeth in his mouth. When Addie was on the brink of death, he sent his two sons to gather firewood for only three dollars. Jewel and Darl did not get a chance to say their final goodbyes.
After returning, they discovered that Addie, their mother, had passed away during their absence. It is certain that Anse utilized the money they had obtained to pay for his dental work.
Anse would exploit individuals and refused to let his children sleep indoors when they stayed overnight at friends’ places. Despite multiple offers for them to sleep inside, they chose to remain in the barn with the coffin. Anse repeatedly states that he doesn’t want to be indebted to anyone, yet he consistently takes advantage of offered services and begins to expect them.
He enlists people to help him, just like he would when he needs a shovel.
Anse Bundren remarries immediately after Addie’s death, without even taking the time to grieve. This action confirms Addie’s belief that Anse is all talk and no action. If he truly loved her, he would have at least waited before finding a replacement. Anse is full of empty words that mean nothing to Addie.
I despise Anse. He is a complete loser as a person. He needs to think about someone other than himself at some point. His appearance is enough to make someone cringe, as are his actions.
