Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio
Sherwood Anderson's novel Winesburg, Ohio was written in the early twentieth century. It is a series of 25 books that cover a wide range of psychological topics.
Grotesque and Its Reflection
Grotesque is a representation of bizarre human character distortions as well as exaggerated unusual characteristics. It contains the hideous caricature of people's appearance and actions. It is a reflection of the residents' everyday lives in the Midwest area. The book's history is influenced by American industrialization, which contributes to the expansion of cities. Interestingly, the industrial development necessitated the shift from city life to town life, and the residents there, Midwest, subjected to all sorts of emotional and psychological lacunae, became grotesque in the others' eyes. The grotesque, therefore, will form the springboard for this paper.
Industrialization and Its Impact
In the past half a century, extensive changes have happened in different cycles of life. Both evolution and revolution have taken place. To this effect, industrialization and its coming is a step to reckon, however, the humiliation and dehumanizing aspect linked with it is a matter that Anderson delves into. According to him, the evil of degrading, humiliation, and even despairing characterize the very foundation upon which it is based. It is this peculiar linkage that prompted him to lay bare the grotesque. Sherwood Anderson remarks, "As people, we have given ourselves to industrialists and industrialism is not lovely. If any man can find beauty in an American factory town, I wish he would show me the way. For myself, I cannot find it. To me and I am living in industrial life, the whole thing is as ugly as modern war." (Rideout, 66)
The Grotesque Suffering
The grotesque, the residents suffer in all manner of mental disorders that affect them from within. As a result, they struggled, clawed, and shrieked from them almost wearing them down. Winesburg, Ohio explores both psychological and emotional aspects of the American small-town life. As well as the groping attempts of the townspeople to articulate their feelings and communicate with others - the repressor yearning and obsession which surface fleetingly or exploring from the depths of their experience. (Baym, 1548)
The Nature of Character Individuality
Anderson presents to the reader the very nature of character individuality; this is somewhat isolation to control the mentality of a person. The presentation portrays crazy moments that the protagonists must deal with. The moment, however, is a portrayal of the merger between realism and symbolism. Furthermore, the author unifies the conception of his characters; how they live a distorted life. Notably, this is not how Anderson has presented his book, but rather their lack of capability to express themselves. "Since they cannot truly communicate with others, they have become emotional cripples." (Malcolm, 14-15)
The Distortion of Character
In the godliness, Anderson presents a story about Bentley family. Jesse Bentley, the family patriarch, works so hard to become rich and a dedicated leader in the society. However, as time goes by Jesse, a once devout man start amassing wealth without serving God. In his presentation, Anderson reveals a distortion of character, from being something good into something warped and grotesque.
The Symbolism of Hands
Anderson presents hands in 'the carpenter and the recurrent symbol of hands' in Winesburg. "His story is a story of hand." Notably, the setting of the story is such that a carpenter is seen crying when telling of his brother's death. (The conversation between the writer and the carpenter takes place in a rather small room). "Undoubtedly the room is not as a place of warmth, security, and comfort" the grotesque are given a setting that manifests all kinds of mental and emotional as well as psychological illness. It is desirable how charged hands are presented, hence elusively finding their expression."The hands are charged with meaning, the hands are active, expressive, and affectionate; but seem to be frightened by their power and attempts to keep them hidden."
Symbolic Hands and Disease
However, Elizabeth Willard, George Willard's mother's hands are symbolic as they symbolize a disease. "Her hands pointing to decay is a feature of the ailment she is suffering from. Besides, it is also a representation of the state of life as a middle-aged woman troubled with the obscure physical disease on the one side and baffled in her unfulfilled dream." (Mellisa, 30)
Controversial Views
In conclusion, Malcolm argues that the characters are grotesque as much as they are unable to communicate. Whereas Anderson presents ogre-like characters, the critics hold a contrary opinion. Malcolm states, "I do not argue with the interpretation of the grotesque, but I do oppose the condescending attitude that, probably correctly, attributes to the author, Anderson. He, like other writers of the time, seems to have believed that the people of small-town America must have been leading lives of quiet desperation. As if it were impossible to believe that their lives were satisfying and fulfilling." The attitude of Cowley then is "cold and tends to side with the critics of the book, he says it is pessimistic, destructive, morbidly sexual." In essence, Anderson comes out strongly in the development of grotesque, unlike Malcolm.
Works Cited
Gniadek, Melissa. “The Art of Becoming: Sherwood Anderson, Frank Sargeson and the Grotesque Aesthetic.” Journal of New Zealand Literature: JNZL 23 (2005): 21-35.
Anderson, Sherwood. Winesburg, Ohio. Oxford University Press, USA, 1999.
