| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 外國語文學系 === 86 === This theise explores women''s inferior status in William
Faulkner''sAs I Lay Dying. In AILD, Faulkner deals with women
and marriage in theframework of the Southern family structure.
In the Southern patriarchalsociety, there were two dominant
institutions which emphasized women''s subordination to men: the
male-dominated family and the patriarchal Church.In Faulkner''s
time, women were never on an even footing with their masculine
counterparts though their inferior status had been improved in
the twentieth century. Why? To discuss this issue, I pick out
fourcharacters from the novel: Addie, Anse, Dewey Dell, and Darl
as examples.The reason that I put my special attention on them
is because Addie andAnse can serve as counterparts of each
other. Dewey Dell''s and Darl''scases demonstrate that women''s
subordination to men. In Chapter I, I attempt to show that
Addie Bundren is a powerful matriarch who has enough courage to
subvert a social system constructedupon the patriarchal order.
In Chapter II, I explore Anse Bundren''s effeminate
characterization.His patriarchal authority is sheer imposture.
What makes his patriarchalrole so virulently powerful is that he
does not even have to contributehis own labor to it; his
authority is sustained by his family and neighbors. In
Chapter III, I attempt to show that a woman''s identity is equal
toher body in the patriarchal society. She lives primarily as a
function ofmen, society, or religion. In Chapter IV, I
attempt to show that mother''s role in the family produces
crucial differentiatig experiences in children''s formation
ofgender identity. In this chapter, my focal point is
particularly on DarlBundren because he possesses a flexible ego
boundary, a feature characteristic of female identity. In
conclusion, I conclude that women are inevitable inferior to
menfor several reasons: (1). Anse''s abrupt remarriage is a
natural extensionof his authority to confer his name. (2).
Addie is never able to put a stop to the patriarchal culture''s
figuration of her. (4). The patriarchalsociety emphasizes
patrilineal descent and masculinity. Darl'' ultimatemadness at
the end of the novel shows that it is deadly for a man to havea
female identity.
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