American Masters: Creative Spark

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson

Anderson’s uniquely structured piece focuses on the lives of Winesburg’s most intriguing residents, as each shares a personal recount of their lives and experiences in the small town. The stories essentially intertwine to illustrate the development of George Willard, as he transforms from a heedless young man, to a man well aware of life’s trials and the extent of human misery. Exploring various themes including isolation, communication, limitation, and suffering, Winesburg, Ohio offers a glimpse into its characters heartfelt confessions. Set in the late nineteenth century in the fictional town of Winesburg, Anderson begins his piece with his story “The Book of the Grotesque”, which serves as an introduction to the stories that are to follow and also provides the framework for the book’s underlying themes. The tale presents an elderly writer who is inspired to look back on life and remember many of his acquaintances, who he refers to as grotesques hiding behind a superficial truth. Subsequently, the work introduces George Willard, a young reporter working in the small town, who meets many of the town’s introverted, eccentric, and troubled residents. Accordingly, each story revolves around a particular character, as they reveal the reason behind their self-condemned state of anguish and solitude. Taking up the role of discreet observers, the audience is subjected to an enlightening experience, carefully witnessing each character’s raw emotions, psychological conflict, and damaged self-concept. Nevertheless, the critically acclaimed piece presents a fine example of Anderson’s distinctive style, as he effectively combines both narrative and short story forms to create a piece regarded as having triggered a short story revolution due to its unorthodox style. Furthermore, Anderson’s stories later influenced many notable American writers including Faulkner, Hemingway, and Carver. A deeply moving book portraying the arduous struggles of ordinary people, Winesburg, Ohio encourages the audience to look beneath the deceiving surface of a person and instead recognize and appreciate individual beauty.