Winesburg
Grotesque
The word grotesque is an oxymoron in itself. It means beautiful ugly. How a person can have both of these adjectives is the theme of Winesburg, Ohio written by Sherwood Anderson. His characters become grotesque by holding onto one truth that make them distorted but unknowingly make them beautiful simultaneously. Anderson uses the motif of isolation on Seth Richmond, the Stranger and Tandy to develop their grotesqueness by making the characters’ isolation be the reason why they hold onto one truth causing their grotesqueness. On the other hand, the author uses biblical allusion to help clarify the truth Jesse Bentley lives by that causes his grotesqueness.
Anderson uses the motif of isolation in order to enhance the grotesqueness of Seth Richmond, as the character’s self-imposed isolation causes his grotesqueness. Seth Richmond grows up with his mother, Virginia Richmond who does not know how to discipline him and a deceased father. Seth only stares at his mother apathetically when she scolds him that causes his mother to withdraw from her displeasure. Seth also only shows indifference in things other boys engage in and finds him different from others, since he does not feel the same emotions people would usually feel. Hence, he holds onto the truth that he does not belong in the town and “he [wishes] that he himself [be] stirred by something” (133). Seth’s self-imposed isolation is what causes his grotesqueness. He thinks just because he doesn’t have the same interest as the others and is not “stirred by something” makes him an outcast and unlike. When in fact, the people of Winesburg admire him because he comes off as a passionate and mature man. Nevertheless, Seth does not acknowledge the people’s thoughts because he lives by his truth that he does not fit in Winesburg because he is indifferent about things the people our engaged in. For this reason, he is distorted and grotesque for believing one truth and not accepting the others’ truths.
The word grotesque is an oxymoron in itself. It means beautiful ugly. How a person can have both of these adjectives is the theme of Winesburg, Ohio written by Sherwood Anderson. His characters become grotesque by holding onto one truth that make them distorted but unknowingly make them beautiful simultaneously. Anderson uses the motif of isolation on Seth Richmond, the Stranger and Tandy to develop their grotesqueness by making the characters’ isolation be the reason why they hold onto one truth causing their grotesqueness. On the other hand, the author uses biblical allusion to help clarify the truth Jesse Bentley lives by that causes his grotesqueness.
Anderson uses the motif of isolation in order to enhance the grotesqueness of Seth Richmond, as the character’s self-imposed isolation causes his grotesqueness. Seth Richmond grows up with his mother, Virginia Richmond who does not know how to discipline him and a deceased father. Seth only stares at his mother apathetically when she scolds him that causes his mother to withdraw from her displeasure. Seth also only shows indifference in things other boys engage in and finds him different from others, since he does not feel the same emotions people would usually feel. Hence, he holds onto the truth that he does not belong in the town and “he [wishes] that he himself [be] stirred by something” (133). Seth’s self-imposed isolation is what causes his grotesqueness. He thinks just because he doesn’t have the same interest as the others and is not “stirred by something” makes him an outcast and unlike. When in fact, the people of Winesburg admire him because he comes off as a passionate and mature man. Nevertheless, Seth does not acknowledge the people’s thoughts because he lives by his truth that he does not fit in Winesburg because he is indifferent about things the people our engaged in. For this reason, he is distorted and grotesque for believing one truth and not accepting the others’ truths.