"As I Lay Dying"- the ending

The ending of this novel was very sudden and vague, complementary to the rest of the book. Anse's sudden remarriage to a woman, whom he only met twice as far as we know, reflects accurately on his personality and the dynamic of the Bundren family. Anse needs a wife figure in his life to take care of him and for him to work for. He doesn't need love from his wife, as evidenced by his first marriage. The new Mrs. Bundren seems very similar to Addie in a way. She seemed to have a comfortable (as is evidenced by the phonograph-- a luxury item during the time immediately following the Great Depression), but probably lonely, life, and marries Anse for seemingly no other reason than to have a change of lifestyle and status (it probably wasn't for love or because of his looks). Society was not kind to single women in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly after they reached a certain age and were still unmarried, so both Mrs. Bundrens had incentive for marrying so quickly. Anse's quick remarriage suprises Addie's children, because he remarries the night of Addie's burial. Anse's matter of fact manner, the sudden news, and the additional shock of Darl's mental instability/criminal nature can only have a negative effect on the children, particularly Vardaman, who is so unstable since Addie's death, the journey, and Darl's departure.