Masculine vs Feminine

Over the weekend, a discussion of masculine versus feminine roles in relationships kept coming up among my circle of friends. It's interesting to note, with that in mind, that the gender roles were what seemed to stand out most, for me, from Bullet in the Brain.

Perhaps not readily apparent, every character Anders involves himself with was, in some way or another, feminine. Overtly so, were the women in the bank, including the teller, his wife, his lover Sherry, and his daughter. On the flipside, however, we have the gunman that eventually takes his life, which is a point of interest in and of itself, who is also feminine in his role in the story.

For reference purposes, I've deemed the second gunman the more feminine of the two based upon his projected role in the robbery -- he takes the pistol and gives the shotgun to gunman #2, the smaller of the two weapons; he allows gunman #2 to take possession of the bank guard and tie him up; and directs #2 in the actual removal of the money.

In the case example of his mother on her deathbed or his daughter lecturing Paws the bear on the impending consequences of his recent naughty behaviors, it becomes clear to the reader that Anders views feminine (not necessarily female) individuals as violent, yet unthreatening creatures. This then explains his actions in the bank, the crude manner in which he treated the women just ahead of him, but especially his laughing at the gunman -- he can't imagine that someone so feminine in demeanor would actually follow through with their violent threats.