Wednesday, April 27, 2016
The Southern Gothic
Both Salvage the Bones and Dream Boy display aspects of being a "southern gothic." Both novels contain instances of ghostly/ haunted figures in the fathers. Neither father is present during any positive time over the course of each novel, this makes them ghost like. The fathers presence seems to be more of a haunting to their children then a typical father-child relationship. Both novels also contain "taboo" sexuality and sexual relations. In Dream Boy, homosexuality is expressed in many of the male relationships presented. In Salvage, Esch has sex and gets pregnant before marriage. Both of these are examples of sexuality and sex that are not widely accepted in the south. Haunted/ghostly figures and taboo sexuality are major themes of the genre "sothern gothic" and are explicitly present through Dream Boy and Salvage.
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Dreamboy and Salvage the Bone have many common elements that southern gothic like taboo sexuality. I think they both have also have a common of theme of old south versus new south. In Salvage there is kind of a time-suck in the Pit where everything has been the same for the long time, but Hurricane is a threat to this. In Dreamboy Nathan is a symbol for the new south (homosexuality) and is a perceived threat to Burke (repression) a symbol for the old south.
ReplyDeleteThe Southern Gothic literary style i feel allows for readers to have better understanding of the scenes portrayed throughout the novels. Readers know that this literary style has a close connection with the Southern History. This background knowledge then allows the readers to encompass themselves in the scenes to expand their imaginary skills and be one with the novels. In doing so I feel Southern Gothic literature more so persuades the readers to want to know more of this style and inner workings for what it is.
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