-Lexie Anderson
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Heading West- Anderson
For centuries, people of all sorts have found the answers to their problems by heading west. When the poverty stricken Brits grew tired of suppressive rule, they packed their things and headed to what was considered west then, the east coast. Centuries later, Manifest destiny swept the nation. Again, people believed they could solve all their problems by heading west. As Jack Burden said, "when you don't like it where you are you go West. We have always gone west"(431). When Jack finds out that his old love Anne Stanton is Willie's new mistress, he feels an undeniable sense of betrayal from both of them. Jack had a great deal of trust and respect in Willie, but an act such as this broke all boundaries. Like many others, Jack decides to clear his head by taking a trip to Long Beach. During this time he reflects on his love life with both Anne and Lois, his ex wife. As Jack said about his travels to the golden coast, "So I fled West from the fact, and in the West, at the end of History, the Last Man on the Last Coast, on my hotel bed, I had discovered that dream. The dream was the dream that all life is but the dark heave of blood and the twitch of the nerve"(433). It can be seen how emotionally damaged Jack is. His cynical outlook on life as well as the women in it are expressed through quotes like these. So why do people head west? It's beautiful, new and full of promise. The golden coast is like a blank slate, where nobody knows you and anyone can start over. We have always had this mind set. If you don't like where you are, move to the left and everything will magically be better. As Jack said himself, "So there is an innocence and a new start in the West, after all. If you believe the dream you dream when you go there"(434). People often run from their problems, but what happens when there is no more land to run to? By taking this break, Jack is given the opportunity to sort his own mind, while also rebel against Willie and Anne's actions. He is able to figure out that home is home, and that he must being to change.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I thoroughly agree with you. Also, I believe that Jack heads West hoping for a fresh start and to find redemption. Jack says that “There is innocence and a new start in the West, after all” (434). By escaping to the West, Jack eludes his life in the South as he feels betrayed by two of his closest friends. He needed to find peace in his past and history with Anne so he could successfully focus on his life in the present. As a student of history, Jack studied the Manifest Destiny and the success stories of those who forfeited their entire lives to start anew in the West. Similarly following this train of thought, Jack abruptly left to journey to the West and was even triumphant because he got closer to accepting and understanding his past.
ReplyDelete