Ending of As I Lay Dying: Anse

Throughout the course of the novel, I've been something of a supporter of Anse, or at least I was open to accepting him as a hero should he end up proving himself.  He did have some endearing characteristics, and was initially portrayed as an honest and honorable man.  At Addie's bedside, he showed genuine concern and tried to express this with his awkward smoothing of the bed.  Anse was the one to motivate (or force) the family to set out for Jefferson, and even if he wasn't doing any manual labor, he was doing his best to keep everyone focused on their goal and respectful of their mother's death.

His development as a character was complicated when it was revealed that he may have an ulterior motive, or at least another goal on his mind, this being obtaining a set of false teeth.  He merely mentioned it after Addie's death, but it became more and more concerning as Anse continued to think fondly of his teeth and how they would greatly improve his life.  When Anse has to buy a new team of mules, he perhaps dishonorably exchanges everything his children have, including Jewel's much-prized horse.  However when he is left with no other choice, Anse sacrifices his teeth fund for the sake of the journey, and presumably Addie's honor.  At this point I was a bit concerned as to where Anse would end up psychologically, but he seemed to be proving his integrity.

Ultimately it seems Faulkner isn't content to leave us with this forgiving picture of the clumsy hero, with Anse stealing all that Dewey Dell has left to buy those teeth.  While doing so, he attempts to justify his actions by suggesting that the $10 was probably earned immorally, and generally questioning the value of all his children.  

The last straw is of course Anse's "introduction" of Mrs. Bundren to his family.  Not only does he dismissively list off his children's names, but he doesn't see fit to even mention Darl.  I think this makes it clear that Anse has little or no emotional attachment to his family or Addie, as he quickly moves on and accepts this new Bundren family.  My issue with Anse in the end isn't that he emerges victorious, or even that he was the only one to benefit from the journey.  Instead it is his failure to stay true to his ideals, or rather, that for Anse these were not ideals, but superstition.  For Anse, it is only right that a family includes a wife in it; it is the way the world works.  Similarly, it is expected that a husband will honor his wife's dying wish.  Perhaps the absurdity of her wish and his absolute willingness to comply are indicative of Anse's surface understanding, rather than the actual moral basis of these practices.  Because the physical journey to Jefferson could not be considered a success. my only hope for Anse's development into a hero was through his psychological strength or development.  The protagonist" ultimately falls short.