Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio: The Individual in the Village Dr ...

Damascus University Journal, Vol.٢٠, No. (١+٢), ٢٠٠٤
Kutrieh
Ahmad Ramez
Anderson's characters have their own truths that make them
grotesques, separate, and unable to commune with others. Even the
minor characters of the book are grotesques. We are told that the old
carpenter who fixes the writer’s bed is mentioned in the first story only
"because he, like many of what are called very common people, became
the nearest thing to what is understandable and lovable of all the
grotesques in the writer's book”(٥-٦). George Willard, the young
reporter, hears their stories. He hears with the adult Anderson’s ears; his
empathy for the pitiable grotesques drives him to write about their plight.
The individual in Winesburg feels lonely and isolated even
among crowds (٣١٣). Even when George is with Helen White, the
feeling of loneliness is intensified. He wants individualism to take over
not only his life but also that of others. He tells Helen, "I want you today
to be different from other women”(٣٠٨). His mother is no different: her
individuality prompts her to get hold of an idea when she is on a ride one
spring afternoon.
Thoughts came and I wanted to get away from
my thoughts. I began to beat the horse...I wanted
to get out of town, out of my clothes, out of my
marriage, out of my body out of everything.
(٢٩٤)
She wanted "to run away from everything." but wanted "to
run towards something too"(٢٩٤).
Anderson was not just describing grotesque characters of the village
but was showing the failure of the emphasis on individualism. Such
emphasis leads to the excesses that one sees in the characters of
Winesburg. Total absorption with inner light does not illuminate his
characters’ way towards salvation and fulfillment but to isolation and
frustration. There is no way for that individual to accomplish anything
alone when separated from his society. A society of individuals,
Winesburg shows us, is not a society but a group of individuals who live
side by side without having the same goals, outlook on life, or genuine
concern for others. Some characters of Winesburg are capable of
stepping out of their separate existences to show signs that not everything
is totally lost when they do show concern for others and stop thinking
about their obsessive ideas that keep them apart. The reader sees this in
٤٧