The writing of this paper was initiated by a seminar on the concepts and implications of civilization and wilderness in American fiction. When Frederick Jackson Turner analyzed the significance of the Frontier in American history, he claimed that the true American character was not influenced by Europe, but built by the constant, strenuous interaction with and the heroically endured hardships of nature’s wildness, which presented itself to the pioneers along the frontier line up until 1890, when the frontier was considered officially closed (Turner 1893). Accordingly, nature and wilderness play an important role in American history, character, and literature. Wilderness visualized as trees or the woods in general, symbolizes a lawless place and, thus, not only allowing for the idea of beasts but also of criminals living there. The uncanny in this picture is obvious and allows for mystifications quite a lot. Besides symbolizing a place of evil, wilderness has also been a space for the individual, most evident in the Puritan idea of expelling non-conformist people, sinners, from the community and sending them to exile into the woods. In this regard, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter and its adulterous protagonist Hester Prynne serve as a perfect example from literature.
In this instant it becomes clear, that wilderness and civilization serve as binary oppositions, that have been primarily favored as neatly separated categories in the Puritan thinking. Civilization has been praised as the ideal, refining, and humane state, which can only be realized in the community and its democratic institutions. The missionary thought of bringing civilization to the continent and, thus, taming the wilderness, evoked a new idea: that of Manifest Destiny. Pioneers turn into the chosen people, bringing light into the darkness of the wild continent.
The author would like to note that the following pages were attempted to be structured according to those concepts. Trying to do so, however, the subject of the paper, Stewart O’Nan’s novel A Prayer for the Dying, proved itself to be challenging for such a proceeding. The concepts of civilization and wilderness can be found throughout the novel and to a certain degree can be deconstructed nonetheless, but they present themselves not in an exclusive, absolute, and categorical but rather in a confused and intertwined manner.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- About this Paper
- About the Author and the Novel
- The Structure and Genres of the Novel
- The Concepts of Civilization
- The Implications of Wilderness
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes Stewart O'Nan's novel, A Prayer for the Dying, examining how the concepts of civilization and wilderness are intertwined and presented in a confusing manner, challenging traditional binary oppositions. The paper explores the novel's narrative structure and genre conventions, particularly its use of second-person narration and elements of gothic fiction. It also investigates the role of wilderness as a source of both terror and individual freedom in the context of American literature and history.
- The interplay between civilization and wilderness in O'Nan's novel.
- The novel's narrative structure and genre conventions (gothic fiction, second-person narration).
- The role of wilderness as a symbol of evil and individual freedom.
- The psychological impact of isolation and the breakdown of social order.
- The relationship between faith, morality, and societal collapse.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
About this Paper: This introductory chapter establishes the context of the paper within a seminar on wilderness and civilization in American fiction. It uses Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier thesis as a point of departure, discussing the traditional binary opposition between civilization and wilderness in American literature and history, exemplified by the Puritan practice of banishing non-conformists. It introduces the central argument that O'Nan's novel complicates this binary opposition by presenting civilization and wilderness in a confused and intertwined manner.
About the Author and the Novel: This chapter provides biographical information on Stewart O'Nan, highlighting his prolific writing career and critical acclaim. It then introduces A Prayer for the Dying, its protagonist Jacob Hansen, and its setting in post-Civil War rural Wisconsin. The chapter summarizes the plot, emphasizing Jacob's role in inadvertently spreading a deadly disease throughout the town, culminating in widespread death and chaos. It introduces the novel's gothic elements and the unsettling atmosphere it creates.
The Structure and Genres of the Novel: This chapter analyzes the novel's unique narrative structure, which employs a second-person point of view. This allows the reader access to the protagonist's thoughts and feelings while simultaneously creating a sense of involvement and potential culpability. The chapter explores the gothic elements in the novel, comparing it to the works of Edgar Allan Poe and noting its focus on psychological horror rather than solely on external threats. The chapter further connects this to the American gothic tradition, specifically its use of setting (small town) to heighten the sense of terror and the unsettling aspects of nuclear family dynamics.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Civilization, wilderness, American Gothic, Stewart O'Nan, A Prayer for the Dying, second-person narration, psychological horror, faith, morality, societal collapse, binary oppositions, frontier, isolation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Prayer for the Dying - A Literary Analysis
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes Stewart O'Nan's novel, A Prayer for the Dying, focusing on the complex interplay between civilization and wilderness, challenging traditional binary oppositions. It examines the novel's narrative structure, genre conventions (gothic fiction, second-person narration), and the symbolic role of wilderness as both terrifying and liberating.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the interplay between civilization and wilderness in O'Nan's novel; the novel's narrative structure and genre conventions (gothic fiction, second-person narration); the role of wilderness as a symbol of evil and individual freedom; the psychological impact of isolation and the breakdown of social order; and the relationship between faith, morality, and societal collapse.
What is the novel's narrative structure and genre?
The novel utilizes a unique second-person point of view, drawing the reader into the protagonist's experience and creating a sense of involvement and potential culpability. It incorporates elements of gothic fiction, focusing on psychological horror and utilizing the setting (a small town) to heighten the sense of terror and explore unsettling aspects of family dynamics. The paper connects this to the American gothic tradition.
How does the paper utilize the Frontier Thesis?
The paper uses Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis as a starting point, discussing the traditional binary opposition between civilization and wilderness in American literature and history. It argues that O'Nan's novel complicates this binary opposition by presenting a more intertwined and ambiguous relationship between the two concepts.
What is the role of wilderness in the novel?
The wilderness in A Prayer for the Dying serves as a powerful symbol, representing both a source of terror and a potential space for individual freedom. The paper explores the ambiguity of this symbolism and its implications within the context of American literature and history.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of chapters covering an introduction to the paper and its context, biographical information on Stewart O'Nan and an introduction to the novel, a detailed analysis of the novel's structure and genre, and a conclusion. Each summary highlights key aspects of the respective section.
What are the keywords associated with this literary analysis?
Keywords include: Civilization, wilderness, American Gothic, Stewart O'Nan, A Prayer for the Dying, second-person narration, psychological horror, faith, morality, societal collapse, binary oppositions, frontier, and isolation.
What is the overall argument of the paper?
The paper argues that Stewart O'Nan's A Prayer for the Dying challenges the traditional binary opposition between civilization and wilderness in American literature by presenting a complex and intertwined relationship between the two, exploring themes of psychological horror, societal collapse, and the ambiguous nature of individual freedom.
- Quote paper
- Matthias Groß (Author), 2005, "Civilness and Wilderization:" The Confusing, Entwined Terror of Wilderness and Civilization in Stewart O'Nan's "A Prayer for the Dying", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/52838
