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Female Sexuality in as I Lay Dying

In: Novels

Submitted By FlyFree27
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William Faulkner published As I Lay Dying in 1930, highlighting the issues of women oppression during this time. Women were not seen as equals to men, but rather a commodity for men to use and capitalize for their own advantage. Specifically, female sexuality was used as a benefit for men which resulted in a sense obligation and even regret for women. The two female characters, Addie Bundren and her daughter Dewey Dell, represent the oppressed women and pressures that come along with female sexuality. Faulkner presents female sexuality as an obligation for women in order to critique how men exploit women. Faulkner criticizes the way advantageously men use their sexuality in order to exploit female sexuality to gain a better economic standing. For men, sex is only a means to benefit themselves. Sex is seen as obligation for women through Addie’s relationship to Anse. It is obvious that Addie does not love Anse and considers ‘love’ to be just a word. Addie is used by Anse in order to have sex, and have babies to create more work hands out in the field. Addie understands her role is to manage the house and have babies. After she has a child with the minister, she gave Anse Dewey Dell and Vardaman to “negative Jewel” (1923). Addie had an obligation to have sex with Anse and give him more children in order to make up for her sexual relationship with another man. Faulkner presents that for Anse, the betrayal was not in sleeping with another man, but by losing an opportunity with Anse to have more children. Faulkner portrays woman as being manipulated into the exploitation of men. This makes the sexual relationship between Anse and Addie become like a tool. Anse treats Addie the same way he treats his animals. They are of use to him in order to get work done quicker. When Peabody comes to treat Addie as she is dying in bed, he notes the way she is looking at him. Peabody

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