Cormac Mccarthy's Child Of God
Critical Analysis of Child Of God
Written by Cormac McCarthy in 1973, the novel, Child of God takes place in Sevier County, Tennessee, in the 1960’s. This novel tells a story of Lester Ballard, a rather odd man described as "a child of God much like yourself perhaps.” The unfortunate events of Ballard 's life in the novel unveiled a failed attempt to survive outside of the normal social order. After the abandonment of his mother, his father 's suicide and the auctioning off of his land, Ballard is forced into a life of isolation as a cave dweller, hiding from the shame and crime that society has framed upon him. This isolation then sparks a light to ignite the fire within Lester Ballard. Crossing paths with an abandoned vehicle on the …show more content…
side of the road in the woods, Lester discovers the lifeless bodies of a couple, it is at this moment when Lester is introduced as a Necrophiliac. Driven by his curiosity and hunger for the thrill, Lester Ballard is then unfolded through the pages of the novel as an outcast, a murderer and a necrophiliac. Lester Ballards desire to be accepted eventually consumes the character himself and causes the reader to question the role human beings take in society. In the novel, Child of God readers are able to view the impact of societal destruction on a human beings moral disgrace.
In the critical article, “Child of God” by Rosemary M. Canfield Reisman, the Child of God is categorized into the different impacts of the writing style used within the novel. For example, Reisman discusses the smooth transformation of Tennessee mountaineer dialogue to descriptive lyrical passages within in McCarthy 's writing. Another technique praised by Reisman was the intellectual depth and thematic complexity McCarthy created by including anecdotes of Lester Ballard’s historic past. Reisman further concluded that this technique of presenting Lester Ballard through references of history, dreams, as well as anecdotes from the narrator 's helped lead to the complexity of the character Lester Ballard. Michael Madsen, author of the critical article, “The Uncanny Necrophile in Cormac McCarthy 's Child of God; or, How I Learned to Understand Lester Ballard and Start Worrying” discusses the concept of the main characters cave dwelling. Madsen compares Ballard to a Karl Marx quote from Economic and Philosophical Notebooks, the quote states, “We have said . . . that man is regressing to the cave dwelling, etc.— but he is regressing to it in an estranged, malignant form. The savage in his cave—a natural element which freely offers itself for his use and protection—feels himself no more than a stranger, or rather feels as much at home as a fish in water” - Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Notebooks (qtd. in Vidler 5). Madsen relates Lester Ballard to this statement because Ballard appears as the savage regressing to cave dwelling after he lost multiple homes and has been outcast by his community. Contradicting to the final part of Marx’s statement is that Lester never truly felt at home, he remained estranged and lonely. The progression of this message throughout the novel forces the readers to question whether Lester is a savage or in fact a child of God. Madsen also discusses the theme of grotesque writing and its effect among the readers as well as the writing itself. For instance, Madsen stated “the actions of McCarthy 's characters are often horrifying, yet comical; repulsive, yet understandable.” This draws the readers in by experiencing McCarthys displaced characters through his grotesque descriptions.
In the Child of God, the author presents the events of the novel through the experience of multiple narrators.
One of the most unique features in Cormac McCarthy 's writing style is that McCarthy does not use quotation marks to separate thought from speech. The reader, however, is able to tell the distinction between the two by McCarthys change to a poetic format. The authors formated writing also switches between matter-of-fact description, poetic prose and first person narration. As stated in the introduction, Child of God takes place in Tennessee in the 1960’s. McCarthy chose to demonstrate the thick, southern, mountaineer dialect with word choices such as “yonder”, “ain’t” and “ye.” The author also emphasizes the lack of sophistication in his characters through grammar mistakes and incorrectly spelled words within the novel. An example of this style of writing is demonstrated on page three, paragraph four, line thirteen “I don’t give a good goddamn where the high sheriff is at. I want you sons of bitches off my goddamned property. You hear?” This quote also demonstrates the current use of cursing and vulgar language used in McCarthy’s writing. In the Child of God there are multiple narratives told within the story. The author chose these interrupters as miniature novels so that the reader could view the biased opinions of Lester Ballard from other minor characters in the novel. This effect allows the reader a secondary source of details and characteristics of
Ballard.
Cormac McCarthy employs unique techniques throughout the novel Child of God. His primary technique is the use of first person point of view. Interestingly enough, the narrator in the novel is never named and is unreliable. The point of view contributes to the readers ability to develop both primary and secondary characteristics of Ballard. Another contribution the author makes to the reader is by addressing them personally in his writing. McCarthy addresses the reader with statements like, “He could not swim, but how would you drown him?” and “See him. You could say that hes sustained by his fellow men, like you.” By personally addressing the reader, the author then is allowing the reader to look in and see things from the characters perspective. As stated in the previous paragraph, the author uses the technique of intruding the novel through small anecdotes of various narrators. The small interrupters act as flashbacks to describe the various crimes committed by Ballard, such as; Ballards eviction, how Ballard murdered a local cow, how Ballard received his rifle, Ballard’s success at the town shooting gallery and then his eviction from the gallery. The flashback technique is used to demonstrate the development of Ballard’s criminal characteristics over time throughout the novel, henceforth, serving as explanations of Lester Ballards almost unexplainable actions. As well as serving as an explanation for Ballards actions, the flashbacks also allow the author to present Lester Ballard through minor characters biased opinions. Characterizing Ballard through both dramatic and descriptive characteristics.
The basic structure of Child of God is that of a story. The novel is divided into three parts. By dissecting the book into three segments, it allows for an easier flow of the plot. Part one can be easily summarized as establishing the setting and the social environment, introducing the protagonist and relating Ballards eviction and foreclosure of his property. Part two unfolds his growing alienation as well as his transgression into crime. Part three is marked by the anti climatic change in tone. Within these three segments the author used a collection of multiple narrators. Previously mentioned above, discussed the use of interrupting flashbacks in the aruthors structure. The eight miniature narratives within the story are known as the metadiscourse structure. Writers often use this structure as some form to connect with their readers. The effect of this form helps make transitions among ideas, providing evidence claims and elaborate on key points.
Multiple themes are demonstrated throughout the novel Child of God, however, the most recurring themes within the writing are cruelty, isolation, and the role of human beings in society. Sexual deviancy is also a predominant theme in the novel. Ballard, whom the author clearly created with the inability to obtain a romantic relationship disembarks into necrophilia after discovering a dead couple in a car. Another theme expressed by the Child of God is survival. As the world defines Ballard as an outcast, he then must turn into a survivalist by living in harsh conditions, stealing food, and escaping from men who seek to harm him. All of these themes form in the development of the destruction of Lester Ballard. Quoted from the novel, “Lester Ballard could never hold his head right after that.” shows how all of these elements can envelop, engulf and destroy the morals of humanity.
Child of God is a masterpiece of southern American literature, filled with insightful, complex themes and elements. Strategies and techniques used by McCarthy are employed in order to contribute to the novels theme in order to present the destruction of human beings in society. The character Lester Ballard, who represents the absence of morals, knowing no limits nor seems to recognize others as human like himself, at the end of the novel chooses to turn himself into the police at his own free will. This moment is the most important choice made by this character. Ballard had chosen humanity, and is accepted into human society in a padded cell. Societies admission of Ballard’s humanity is defined upon his death. Through this novel, individuals and other readers can come to the conclusion that Lester Ballard, indeed was a child of God, that he in some form is a representation of who they are- or could be. It is this darkness that makes the reader want to look away but at the same time draws the reader in. McCarthy is able to accurately describe the fears of isolation and being outcast from society. By creating the cruelty, isolation and dehumanization of Lester Ballard, Cormac McCarthy is able to accurately describe the vicious basic human impulses made when facing the fear of the unknowable world. Child of God stands as McCarthys most profoundly enlightening and most disturbing achievement.
Work Cited http://books.google.com/books?id=UEwHYJUhQfAC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=why+is+the+Child+Of+God+by+cormac+mccarthy+structured+in+3+parts&source=bl&ots=cNsIe8e21p&sig=pMUFuFsX8t8eCYG3UvfnLJzFg58&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SuBAUrvQFa-x4AOvioDgBg&ved=0CFQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=why%20is%20the%20Child%20Of%20God%20by%20cormac%20mccarthy%20structured%20in%203%20parts&f=false http://explorationsofstyle.com/2011/09/01/signposting-and-metadiscourse/ http://www.gradesaver.com/child-of-god/wikipedia/plot-summary/ file:///home/chronos/user/Downloads/7004-27877-1-PB.pdf http://www.lib.utk.edu/newfoundpress/pubs/walsh/chp5.pdf http://quarterlyconversation.com/cormac-mccarthy-outer-dark-child-of-god http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=11&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLXBsdXM%3d#db=lkh&AN=103331MP413319820000313 http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=10&hid=125 http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=10&hid=125
Written by Cormac McCarthy in 1973, the novel, Child of God takes place in Sevier County, Tennessee, in the 1960’s. This novel tells a story of Lester Ballard, a rather odd man described as "a child of God much like yourself perhaps.” The unfortunate events of Ballard 's life in the novel unveiled a failed attempt to survive outside of the normal social order. After the abandonment of his mother, his father 's suicide and the auctioning off of his land, Ballard is forced into a life of isolation as a cave dweller, hiding from the shame and crime that society has framed upon him. This isolation then sparks a light to ignite the fire within Lester Ballard. Crossing paths with an abandoned vehicle on the …show more content…
side of the road in the woods, Lester discovers the lifeless bodies of a couple, it is at this moment when Lester is introduced as a Necrophiliac. Driven by his curiosity and hunger for the thrill, Lester Ballard is then unfolded through the pages of the novel as an outcast, a murderer and a necrophiliac. Lester Ballards desire to be accepted eventually consumes the character himself and causes the reader to question the role human beings take in society. In the novel, Child of God readers are able to view the impact of societal destruction on a human beings moral disgrace.
In the critical article, “Child of God” by Rosemary M. Canfield Reisman, the Child of God is categorized into the different impacts of the writing style used within the novel. For example, Reisman discusses the smooth transformation of Tennessee mountaineer dialogue to descriptive lyrical passages within in McCarthy 's writing. Another technique praised by Reisman was the intellectual depth and thematic complexity McCarthy created by including anecdotes of Lester Ballard’s historic past. Reisman further concluded that this technique of presenting Lester Ballard through references of history, dreams, as well as anecdotes from the narrator 's helped lead to the complexity of the character Lester Ballard. Michael Madsen, author of the critical article, “The Uncanny Necrophile in Cormac McCarthy 's Child of God; or, How I Learned to Understand Lester Ballard and Start Worrying” discusses the concept of the main characters cave dwelling. Madsen compares Ballard to a Karl Marx quote from Economic and Philosophical Notebooks, the quote states, “We have said . . . that man is regressing to the cave dwelling, etc.— but he is regressing to it in an estranged, malignant form. The savage in his cave—a natural element which freely offers itself for his use and protection—feels himself no more than a stranger, or rather feels as much at home as a fish in water” - Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Notebooks (qtd. in Vidler 5). Madsen relates Lester Ballard to this statement because Ballard appears as the savage regressing to cave dwelling after he lost multiple homes and has been outcast by his community. Contradicting to the final part of Marx’s statement is that Lester never truly felt at home, he remained estranged and lonely. The progression of this message throughout the novel forces the readers to question whether Lester is a savage or in fact a child of God. Madsen also discusses the theme of grotesque writing and its effect among the readers as well as the writing itself. For instance, Madsen stated “the actions of McCarthy 's characters are often horrifying, yet comical; repulsive, yet understandable.” This draws the readers in by experiencing McCarthys displaced characters through his grotesque descriptions.
In the Child of God, the author presents the events of the novel through the experience of multiple narrators.
One of the most unique features in Cormac McCarthy 's writing style is that McCarthy does not use quotation marks to separate thought from speech. The reader, however, is able to tell the distinction between the two by McCarthys change to a poetic format. The authors formated writing also switches between matter-of-fact description, poetic prose and first person narration. As stated in the introduction, Child of God takes place in Tennessee in the 1960’s. McCarthy chose to demonstrate the thick, southern, mountaineer dialect with word choices such as “yonder”, “ain’t” and “ye.” The author also emphasizes the lack of sophistication in his characters through grammar mistakes and incorrectly spelled words within the novel. An example of this style of writing is demonstrated on page three, paragraph four, line thirteen “I don’t give a good goddamn where the high sheriff is at. I want you sons of bitches off my goddamned property. You hear?” This quote also demonstrates the current use of cursing and vulgar language used in McCarthy’s writing. In the Child of God there are multiple narratives told within the story. The author chose these interrupters as miniature novels so that the reader could view the biased opinions of Lester Ballard from other minor characters in the novel. This effect allows the reader a secondary source of details and characteristics of
Ballard.
Cormac McCarthy employs unique techniques throughout the novel Child of God. His primary technique is the use of first person point of view. Interestingly enough, the narrator in the novel is never named and is unreliable. The point of view contributes to the readers ability to develop both primary and secondary characteristics of Ballard. Another contribution the author makes to the reader is by addressing them personally in his writing. McCarthy addresses the reader with statements like, “He could not swim, but how would you drown him?” and “See him. You could say that hes sustained by his fellow men, like you.” By personally addressing the reader, the author then is allowing the reader to look in and see things from the characters perspective. As stated in the previous paragraph, the author uses the technique of intruding the novel through small anecdotes of various narrators. The small interrupters act as flashbacks to describe the various crimes committed by Ballard, such as; Ballards eviction, how Ballard murdered a local cow, how Ballard received his rifle, Ballard’s success at the town shooting gallery and then his eviction from the gallery. The flashback technique is used to demonstrate the development of Ballard’s criminal characteristics over time throughout the novel, henceforth, serving as explanations of Lester Ballards almost unexplainable actions. As well as serving as an explanation for Ballards actions, the flashbacks also allow the author to present Lester Ballard through minor characters biased opinions. Characterizing Ballard through both dramatic and descriptive characteristics.
The basic structure of Child of God is that of a story. The novel is divided into three parts. By dissecting the book into three segments, it allows for an easier flow of the plot. Part one can be easily summarized as establishing the setting and the social environment, introducing the protagonist and relating Ballards eviction and foreclosure of his property. Part two unfolds his growing alienation as well as his transgression into crime. Part three is marked by the anti climatic change in tone. Within these three segments the author used a collection of multiple narrators. Previously mentioned above, discussed the use of interrupting flashbacks in the aruthors structure. The eight miniature narratives within the story are known as the metadiscourse structure. Writers often use this structure as some form to connect with their readers. The effect of this form helps make transitions among ideas, providing evidence claims and elaborate on key points.
Multiple themes are demonstrated throughout the novel Child of God, however, the most recurring themes within the writing are cruelty, isolation, and the role of human beings in society. Sexual deviancy is also a predominant theme in the novel. Ballard, whom the author clearly created with the inability to obtain a romantic relationship disembarks into necrophilia after discovering a dead couple in a car. Another theme expressed by the Child of God is survival. As the world defines Ballard as an outcast, he then must turn into a survivalist by living in harsh conditions, stealing food, and escaping from men who seek to harm him. All of these themes form in the development of the destruction of Lester Ballard. Quoted from the novel, “Lester Ballard could never hold his head right after that.” shows how all of these elements can envelop, engulf and destroy the morals of humanity.
Child of God is a masterpiece of southern American literature, filled with insightful, complex themes and elements. Strategies and techniques used by McCarthy are employed in order to contribute to the novels theme in order to present the destruction of human beings in society. The character Lester Ballard, who represents the absence of morals, knowing no limits nor seems to recognize others as human like himself, at the end of the novel chooses to turn himself into the police at his own free will. This moment is the most important choice made by this character. Ballard had chosen humanity, and is accepted into human society in a padded cell. Societies admission of Ballard’s humanity is defined upon his death. Through this novel, individuals and other readers can come to the conclusion that Lester Ballard, indeed was a child of God, that he in some form is a representation of who they are- or could be. It is this darkness that makes the reader want to look away but at the same time draws the reader in. McCarthy is able to accurately describe the fears of isolation and being outcast from society. By creating the cruelty, isolation and dehumanization of Lester Ballard, Cormac McCarthy is able to accurately describe the vicious basic human impulses made when facing the fear of the unknowable world. Child of God stands as McCarthys most profoundly enlightening and most disturbing achievement.
Work Cited http://books.google.com/books?id=UEwHYJUhQfAC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=why+is+the+Child+Of+God+by+cormac+mccarthy+structured+in+3+parts&source=bl&ots=cNsIe8e21p&sig=pMUFuFsX8t8eCYG3UvfnLJzFg58&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SuBAUrvQFa-x4AOvioDgBg&ved=0CFQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=why%20is%20the%20Child%20Of%20God%20by%20cormac%20mccarthy%20structured%20in%203%20parts&f=false http://explorationsofstyle.com/2011/09/01/signposting-and-metadiscourse/ http://www.gradesaver.com/child-of-god/wikipedia/plot-summary/ file:///home/chronos/user/Downloads/7004-27877-1-PB.pdf http://www.lib.utk.edu/newfoundpress/pubs/walsh/chp5.pdf http://quarterlyconversation.com/cormac-mccarthy-outer-dark-child-of-god http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=11&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLXBsdXM%3d#db=lkh&AN=103331MP413319820000313 http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=10&hid=125 http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a4bfa3fe-c54d-4982-835e-608bb6bdec28%40sessionmgr111&vid=10&hid=125