E.L. Doctorow does some interesting work with narrative flow and
character in The March, his
historical novel of Sherman’s march to the sea.
The march becomes a grand metaphor in Doctorow’s hands. A line of 90,000 men fighting, burning,
looting, pillaging, freeing slaves, acting nobly and barbarously, is a type of barometer
for the mutability of human nature.
Characters change their social roles as easily as shedding
Confederate grey for Union blue. An extremely
light skinned slave marries a white solider to enter the northern white
community. Southerners quickly change allegiances
and turn to the Union. Love turns to
hate. Hate turns to love. Everything is in flux.
Doctorow captures a fluid time in American history, where so many
things seemed possible. The March is both apt allegory and finely told tale.
No comments:
Post a Comment