Truths In Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio

Sherwood Anderson’s collection of short stories, Winesburg, Ohio, follows the lives of residents in a small made up town in Ohio called Winesburg. The characters of each story all concern themselves with a truth, or a principle of reality, which effects the way in which they live their lives. There are clear connections in Anderson’s book of short stories that directly relate to the way he conducted his life. Although not an autobiography, Anderson relates his childhood and adulthood in the truths that the characters of his book grapple with. The collection of short stories not only highlights the realties Anderson has personally struggled with, but also the truths that the readers confront in society. Anderson focus’ on a main character in
Anderson’s truths about giving into lust, finding solace in one’s mind, and finding happiness through marital or single life are expressed through his collection of short stories.
Anderson struggled with marital complications throughout his adulthood, resulting in three divorces and four marriages. With his first wife, Cornelia Pratt Lane, he had three children. They divorced 13 years later, and he married his mistress. After a short marriage to her, he had two more marriages. All three of his marriages lasted less than 20 years each, but his last marriage to Eleanor Gladys Copenhaver lasted till his death (“Sherwood Anderson Biography” 4). This struggle between loyalty and lust is seen in Anderson’s short story, “The Strength of God”, in which the main character, Reverend
Soon after he became a successful author publishing novels and short stories, traveling the world and living in beautiful Grayson County with a vacation home. Anderson rarely saw his children and grandchildren, and was always on the move traveling and studying the world in the hunt for inspirations for his writing (“Sherwood Anderson, A Brief Biography 1876-1941”). In the story, “Loneliness”, the main character, Enoch Robinson, once was a social man with many friends. He soon slips away from society and retreats to the comfort of his own mind. Anderson writes, “With an absurd air of importance [Enoch Robinson] talked aloud, giving instructions, making comments on life. He was happy and satisfied” (172). Enoch finds happiness through made up people in his head, interactions in his own brain, and being physically alone. Enoch’s mind is his own haven. When Anderson left his reality to pursue a writing career, he was escaping his life with his family and business colleges and moved away to live on his own, with his mind and his writing. Although he did remarry three more times, Anderson found his solace with his mind and his writing. Both Anderson and Enoch share the truth that the only cure to self-happiness is in one’s own mind. Through his writings Anderson can express his thoughts and emotions, instead of with a companion. His four marriages might be an explanation