Men as Boys in Bastard Out of Carolina

In the southern culture presented in Bastard Out of Carolina, the women are raised to believe that men should be treated with the forgiveness and extra care as little boys. It is evident that Bone's mother gives Daddy Glen multiple chances to prove his love to her. After Anne finds out about the injuries Bone had, she still can't resist the boy in Glen. Granny notices the inconsistencies of Glen on their first encounter, "That boy's got something wrong with him" (37). We find that Daddy Glen does have a problem. He is an apologetic, pedophilic boy. Glen has not been able to accept the fact that he is not suitable for a family. He cannot keep a job and his immediate family has already rejected him. His wife won't be able to give him a son to redeem himself before his father and that drives Daddy Glen crazy. He is the only boy in this ready-made family and he is acting out against Bone for not accepting him. Daddy Glen shows his power by molesting Bone and not giving her a chance to accept him. Hurting her does not bother him because he feels like he has control at those moments.