The Irony in "Dry September" of William Faulkner

1.      What do you make of McLendon, the champion of white womanhood, striking his wife when he comes home after the murder? This act has been called the crowning irony of the story – What’s ironic about it?

John McLendon’s returning to his “birdcage”, home, at midnight and brutally confronting his wife. Hearing his question, “Haven’t I told you about sitting up like this, waiting to see when I come in?” we wonder where and what he must have been doing the other times, and how often his wife must endure his abusive behavior. The sadism that was revealed in his slashing out at Will continues in his sadistic treatment of his wife when he’s half struck, half flung her across the chair.

He physically abuses his wife, and his house is described as “a birdcage and almost as small . . .” Unable to face personal failure, he turns to various acts of sadism; whether they are against Will Mayes or his passive, mothering wife.

Mrs. McLendon’s seemingly passive acceptance of her husband’s abuse increases our sympathy for her. By ending the story with such a disturbing view of her as a victim, Faulkner reiterates the victimization of many of his characters, most especially Will. Our final glimpse of McLendon is not of the heroic American decorated for valor, but of a mean, vicious, and violently sadistic bigot. Ironically, he kills a man to protect the so-called sanctity of Southern white women, yet he treats his own wife as a piece of property, to do with as he pleases. The White Goddess concept refers to any “lily-white” Southern woman, who is raised in a society that protects her from any unpleasantness. Because she is white, the culture sets her atop a mythical pedestal, creating an imaginary, protective shield through which the Southern aristocracy lets nothing pass that might endanger both physically and emotionally its women. While the Southern white male will allow a woman to fib or tell white lies about insignificant matters, he believes adamantly that a Southern lady could never outright lie; even if she did, a Southern gentleman would never confront her with the lie. Instead, it is obligatory that the white man act upon the premise that a Southern woman can tell nothing but the truth. Psychologically, this complete deference to a woman’s integrity is based on the belief that she could never be attracted to a black man; consequently, she would never lie about such a matter. The White Goddess concept is an abstract ideal, and that is all it is an ideal that fails miserably in real life.

2.      Suppose we press this matter further – there may be some psychological insight involved. Is it possible that McLendon, brute that he is, has a twinge of conscience which moves him enough to take it out on the first thing to come in his way – his wife? Defend your opinion.

McLendon, who easily could be viewed as a character void of any desirable qualities, could also be considered a victim of his place in society.  This vigilante leader who was responsible for the murder of Will had once “commanded troops at the front in France and had been decorated for valor”.  So during the war he was a hero, but once reintegrated into society he becomes the villain who operates on animal instinct.  Imagery is used to support this point when McLendon returns home to his “birdcage,” and how he was “ripping of his shirt,” and was standing at the screen “panting”.  These images bring to mind a wild animal, and such an animal should not be let in to society to hastily.  So it is possible that had it not been for his wartime activities, McLendon may not have killed Will.  Although he may have originally been a racist prior to his service in the military, his experiences in the war may have caused him to act in more severe ways.  So McLendon cannot be fully responsible for the events that took place.  Instead, society is partly to blame for training and sending a man to war, but failing to train and send a man back home.