Children & Society
Images of children differ immensely across cultures and even families. Depending on parents and relatives, and the surrounding conditions in which a child has been brought up, some might be helpless and arrogant, while others are responsible, mature, and act like adults. Exactly this kind of children - mature, responsible, decisive - is portrayed in William Faulkner’s book As I Lay Dying.
The book testifies the fact that children grow up very fast if they live in poverty, or witness death. The Bundren’s were very poor, and every child of the family understood that life prepares problems and obstacles for people. Since their early childhood they have been gradually preparing themselves for adult life, and even still being kids, they behaved very maturely. Because they were very poor, each child understood that parents could only buy food, and not toys or other things they wanted. Therefore, these children even tried to make money on their own. A great example of this maturity is Jewel’s horse, which he bought secretly for the money he earned working at a near-by field at night. 
Children of wealthy parents, on the other hand, receive what they want and in majority of cases “grow up” slower, because they do not have to worry about making money to buy a thing of their choice. However, no matter whether they are responsible or not, children must be cared for, because they are the future of nations. The future of a country depends on children and on how grownups bring them up and educate. The place of children in society is very important. 
Bibliography 
1.	Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. Vintage. 2001.
2.	Perrotta, Tom. Little Children. St. Martin Griffin. 2005.