Marching Through A Novel By John Updike Analysis

In the poem “Marching Through a Novel” by John Updike, the novelists conveys the submissive nature of his characters in the trusting relationship they have with the novelist. Through the metaphor of war, the soldiers -characters- show obedience towards their general -the novelist. The general starts of by illustrating the characters with “misty faces” which gives the reader the impression that they cannot be seen clearly. This could be literal seeing as the novelist goes on to talk about landscape, or it could mean that at this point in the poem they are not familiar with each other. As the novel progresses, the faces of the soldiers will become more clear as the general begins to inform the reader more about their relationship. It can also be inferred that the soldiers are not forced to be there because the word “willingly” was added to the first sentence. This shows that they are ready to follow any orders the general gives them. This however causes conflict in the general because
of the dangerous situations he puts them in; “...through the dazzling quicksand, the marsh of blank paper”. When writing a novel, the novelist can make many changes in characters, including death. There is a connection between them and the author because the writer puts a lot of time and thought into each character so they can fit together. Meaning that changing them causes worry. Similar to how a general can feel worry for their soldiers going into battle. They could lose someone at any given moment. The general does not want to put them in that situation but the novel must be written. The characters will begin to reinforce the idea that they are allowing the general to command them by following his orders with “instant obedience”.
They make any changes the novelist requests. Going as far as improvising for holes that the novelist left in the plot, “develop a motive backwards to suit the deed that’s done”. The soldiers will then “extend skeletal arms for the handcuffs of contrivance” which is when Updike merges the informing metaphor of the poem, and the novelist and characters. That quote simply states that the soldiers will be prisoners of the novelist’s ideas and wishes. They follow the general blindly in exchange for the novelist developing; “...look toward me hopefully, their general and quartermaster, for a clearer face, a bigger heart.” They will allow the relationship to be guided by the general as long as they are given commands with conclusive results which, in regards to the novelist and characters, means that they want a resolution for their
character. A shift occurs in line 19 when the speaker transitions from talking about the obedience that the soldiers demonstrate to the novelist feeling that they are going against them. Even though the soldiers are allowing him to manipulate them, the general does not like some of the actions he has to take in order to finish the novel. The general states that he takes certain actions for them but “it is not enough.” No matter what actions they take, it is all for the end goal: the novel. Twice the command ”Forward” is repeated, emphasizing that that is the most important thing to do. In the end he clearly states that though he marches them forward, he loves them; “Forward. Believe me, I love them though I march them to finish them off.” This might mean that they will die in the novel or become irrelevant to the plot. In the informing metaphor it could mean that they will die in battle. The relationship is one of trust and destruction, for some at least. Overall the soldiers have not lost their faith in the general that leads them, and the general has stated how they feel about marching them to the end of the novel.