Topic > The Flawed Notion of the City and a Superior Alternative to Winesburg, Ohio

The final sentence of Winesburg, Ohio imprints the image of the city vanishing as George Willard departs for the city. Indeed, to view the novel in larger units, the final chapter is clearly titled "Departure," and for any reader who bothers to read the index page before starting the book it is easy enough to deduce how Winesburg, Ohio finish before you even begin. The idea of ​​escape from the town of Winesburg is common throughout the book, and the intended destination for escape is usually an undefined "town". Being a recurring element, however, it fits into a broader theme of the novel, that of the need for change in general. The two means through which change can occur can be classified as explosion and escape, each occupying slightly different niches in the novel. The escape, being the climactic event of the novel, clearly receives prominence. But examination reveals that escape to the city is a largely flawed idea, idealized by many, but producing results that are actually embittered and not much better, empirically, than life in Winesburg. Outburst actually serves as a slightly more effective outlet for the anxieties of Winesburg's citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Outburst in Winesburg, Ohio can be defined as any of many actions that happen suddenly and often quite spontaneously, taken by adults in Winesburg. Early examples include Alice Hindman running naked through the streets in “The Adventure,” Kate Swift passionately embracing George Willard and then storming out of the room in “The Teacher,” and the explosive series of events on the final night in “The Force of God." ." The escape needs little explanation. The escape from Winesburg occurs at the end of the novel, at the end of the "Godness" stories, and occurs or is discussed in several other stories in Winesburg, Ohio. The notion of escape carries with itself also a unique pairing with the related element of entering Winesburg. Doctor Parcival in "The Philosopher" and Wing Biddlebaum in "Hands" are two characters who came to Winesburg from other places. entrance is the idea of ​​what happens outside of Winesburg These three ideas are related in that they represent the three states of being in relation to the city that are so often referred to as movement into the city, away from the city, and. to life within the city. All three figure prominently in Winesburg, Ohio The importance of returning from the city and the events that occur in the city would not seem very important in analyzing the city escape if it were not for the. cult or mythical status that the city has. given in the book. The book's final story illuminates this, when George Willard sets out "to meet the adventure of life" (153). It remains ambiguous which city Willard is leaving for. This nonspecific definition of "city" (or "some city") appears frequently. Seth Richmond in "The Thinker," Curtis Hartman in "The Power of God," and Alice Hindman in "Adventure" all use these vague words in their rather vague plans to leave Winesburg. While this failure to name specific cities as destinations could be attributed to the vagueness of their plans or their ambivalence, it appears rather to be a literary device. Firstly, it is unlikely that George Willard is without any formal destination, yet none are formally mentioned in "Departure". Second, the consistency with which Winesburg residents hoping to leave for a city neglect to mention an actual city suggests that in Anderson's mind it was adeliberate. This decision can probably be grouped with Anderson's overall tone that emphasizes the bucolic small-town worldview of Winesburg residents. Given this elevation of the concept of the city, it is therefore necessary to examine the evidence that Anderson provides regarding what actually happens in cities and how much of this is known to the very people of Winesburg, Ohio, who wish to leave for them. There's actually a surprising amount of material here. Despite the supposed concept of the entire book as a chronicle of life in Winesburg, many stories deal partially or entirely with events experienced in the towns. “Lonelies” is a story set in Winesburg but is otherwise set in the city, as is “Hands” to a lesser extent. Outside Winesburg is actually where some of the worst real events happen. The harassment allegations and the threat of mob violence in “Hands” are two events that surpass anything within the limits of Winesburg in terms of sheer significance that goes beyond the personal and psychological level. The town is where alcoholics live ("Tandy"), where affairs live to completion ("Respectability") as opposed to the adultery that blossoms but never comes to fruition in Winesburg ("Death"), and where the murder is a real event rather than a real event. a piece of news ("The Philosopher"). It appears, then, that Anderson uses the city for two distinct purposes. The first is as a means to write about sensational or disastrous events that ruin people's lives without having to disturb the superficial calm of little Winesburg. The second use of the town is as a somewhat undefined and nebulous place that can serve as an idealized "other place" for some dissatisfied Winesburg residents. The aforementioned negative aspects that the city possesses should make it a less attractive and even unfavorable destination for tourists. "one thousand George Willards" leaving Winesburg for the city (152). The city, however, is not completely erased for two reasons. The first is that people leaving Winesburg aren't necessarily looking for a great, or even better, life. Their main desires are simply change and freedom. When the Reverend Curtis Hartman reflects on leaving for the city to "go into business," it is clear that he is choosing such an alternative only out of concern that he will not be able to continue his preferred career and lifestyle ( 90). . Similarly, Seth Richmond, in "The Thinker," tells himself that he will go "to some town and go to work" only because he is "depressed by the thought of not being a part of life in his own town." (78). The city is not seen with certainty as a paradise. The second reason why the city manages to exist as a preferred destination is because of the severe communications breakdown in the city. Quite simply, it is possible that no one is aware of the bad things happening in the city. The stories of Wash Williams, Wing Biddlebaum, Enoch Robinson, and other refugees from the city go untold. There is a clear contact gap between many groups, including older people and younger people. And it is the young people who want to leave for the city and the elderly who return. The only person who knows all the stories of the town is George Willard, but the stories can be seen as an incentive for him, as a journalist, to go where they happened in search of more. Also notable is the fact that these stories are always specific in naming the exact city where things happen. Clearly, the city loses its charm once you reach it. But not only is the city charmless, it is also unreceptive to newcomers. No one who lives in the city before or after living in Winesburg enjoys prosperity or much contentment. Ned.