The most striking paradox of American society is the contrast between tight-knit communities and the outcasts that it depends upon to survive in a changing world. Winesburg Ohio, written by Sherwood Anderson in 1919, examines this paradox from the bottom, that is, through individual tragedies of characters who have been separated from their communities. Anderson emphasizes the complexity of estrangement, presenting characters who are alienated by themselves: Wing Biddlebaum for his unwavering conviction, Jesse Bentley for his mesianic ambition, Enoch Robins for his overwhelming egotism. Their identity is further eroded by their isolation, which can be caused by communal efforts or their own.
Kipling D. Williams (social psychologist) argues in Ostracism. The Power of Silence that the reasons for an individual’s alienation are often rooted in their idiosyncrasies. “Some people have some undesirable traits or may behave in a way that makes others ostracize their behavior… Some people get ostracized because of what or who they are” (58). Anderson’s characters definitely follow this model. However, more striking than the ability to make people ostracized is the power of ostracism over your identity. Wing Biddlebaum’s first scene in “Hands” describes him as nervously “walking down and up” upon the neglected veranda of the house he lives in on the outskirts Winesburg. This is a significant detail, as Wing was not comfortable in his home. Wing wasn’t at home with himself. Wing spent 20 years living in Winesburg alone, and was only able to connect with George Willard as a young reporter. Wing was not a part of the community for twenty-five years. He suffered for twenty-years from guilt over a horrible episode that left his “forever fearful and beset with a ghostly bandof questions” (9).
Wing–then Adolph Meers–was driven by this horrible episode from a small Pennsylvanian community to Winesburg. A man who was forty years old, Adolph became a household name. The accusations made by one student led to the expulsion of the young teacher from school. This caused a “shiver” in the town and “hidden, dark doubts” that were in men’s heads about Adolph Meyers became “beliefs” (13). The man fled to Winesburg, claiming a new identity: Wing Biddlebaum. From there, he began to internalize the “shadowy doubts” that drove him. Wing, who had been passionate and lively before, felt overwhelmed by guilt. “[Wing] did not understand what had happened, but he felt his hands were at fault” (14).
Wing Biddlebaum’s story is one of hands. Their uncontrollable activity was like the beat of a bird’s wings. He wanted to hide them away, and he looked at the silent, inexpressive fingers of others who drove sleepy cars on country roads or worked in fields beside him (10).
Wing’s social isolation from Pennsylvania shaped his identity to the extent that he never re-emerged in Winesburg. Williams says that these targets are often “highly aware” of their own inadequacies. Wing’s intense self-doubt was manifested by his anxious obsession with his hands, his continual silence, as well as his general social trepidation. He felt further isolated from his local community. George Willard comments, “There is something wrong. However, I don’t want the answer.” “His hands had something to do his fear about me and all people” (12). Wing’s hands may also have contributed to Winesburg’s inability to comprehend his unique lifestyle, and the reasons he never felt “at home” there.
Jesse Bentley was not like Wing. He was also not a part of his time. The narrator said that “[He] had a passion for fanaticism.” “He was a man born of his time. He suffered and made others suffering” (49). Anderson discusses Jesse’s disconnection from Winesburg right after we meet him. This suggests that his social distance played a predominant role in Jesse’s life. His obsession with ostracism and his fervent ambition would grow to be deeply intertwined over time.
Fate placed Jesse Bentley as the “odd shepherd” on the farm. He faced endless questions and scrutiny from his Winesburg neighbors. This was not without cause. Jesse was twenty-two and his body was light, sensitive and feminine. This is far from the strength and brawn of his elder brothers who had made the Bentley farm a success in the past years. Jesse, by today’s standards, didn’t appear like a man (48). Therefore, his neighbors found him amusing (49).
Everybody in Winesburg was pleased that he returned to the farm after it had expanded to six hundred acres.
Jesse, an innocent boy who was doubted by his Winesburg neighbours, set out to create an industrial revolution that would transform “the lives and the thought of Mid-Americaans.” Jesse was motivated in large measure by the Winesburg community’s cynics. He wanted to change his identity and become an “extraordinary person.” This was the moment when the wedge was driven. Jesse started to see himself as fundamentally different from the men of Winesburg. He declared himself “a new type of man” and would lead a “new race” of men (52).
Jesse was so enthralled in his vision that he withdrew from the world and “everyone retired to the background”. (49). He returned to Winesburg to be summoned by his father. “He shut himself off and began to plan… It’s the indefinable need within that made him lose his vision and that keeps him ever more silent before people,” (50). Jesse Bentley was so focused on the news that he was reading in magazines and newspapers, that he didn’t care much about the local affairs. “Something that looked like an invisible curtain seemed to have stood between him and the rest” (80). It was mutual. Jesse’s unique characteristics seem to have led to further segregation in the community, according to Williams’ theory. Williams’ theory of social ostracism includes “insensitivity and hostility to others,” “obnoxiousness” or “perceived riskiness” as characteristics that can cause social isolation. It is possible that Jesse was expelled from Winesburg by Williams’s cosmopolitan mentality, despite not being explicitly stated.
Enoch Robinson was Enoch’s shield against his ambition. Jesse Bentley was Jesse’s curtain. The narration says that Enoch Robinson was always a child. This was a handicap for his worldly growth. “He never grew-up and of all things, he was unable to understand people and make people understand” (152). Enoch was simply unable to communicate with people. Enoch was unable or willing to communicate with others, so his thoughts and feelings were almost exclusively about himself. Enoch lived in a small apartment with young urbanites, who shared a deep love for art. The artists watched and discussed Enoch’s paintings in his Washington Square home. These were pastoral scenes from Winesburg. Enoch remained quiet amid the banter. Enoch, who was frustrated by his inability communicate with artists and convinced no one would understand his meaning, became a loner (154).
Enoch created a new social circle, reuniting with the people he couldn’t communicate with. Enoch, surrounded by his “shadow persons”, was not afraid to speak out boldly and freely. Enoch spoke for the first time ever (155). Enoch fantasized that he was both an orator and socialite in his deepest dreams. Enoch was isolated in the harsh reality of the world. Enoch finally wanted to touch “real flesh-and-bone people with my hands” (155). He married the girl he had sat beside in art school, and he sought to regain his social life. He felt satisfied for a while because he saw himself as a part of “real things” (156). However, this feeling was fleeting. Enoch never learned to be social in his solitude. Enoch was a self-deprecating egotist.
It happened one night. I was mad at her for not understanding me and wanting to let her know how important I was to that room. She needed to know how important I was. I repeated this to her repeatedly. I ran away and locked the doors. When she refused to leave, I was furious. I was extremely angry. It was beyond my comprehension. It was my desire for her to understand. But, you know what? I couldn’t allow her to. She would have all the answers, but I was afraid she would lose sight of me.
Enoch drove his wife from her apartment and out of his life. He also removed his shadow people from his life. Enoch returned from Winesburg alone, feeling defeated, lost and lonely. Enoch was unable to build meaningful social relationships and became increasingly distant from the community. Enoch was terrified of being vulnerable and for many years he ostracized all those around him. Williams refers to this motive as “defensive” and says, “[A] source might deliberately ostracize an individual… preemptively [to protect against being harmed]” (47). Enoch was unable to socialize because of his self-imposed exclusion. Enoch was also rejected by society. Enoch Robinson said that “nothing ever happened for him” (152). Winesburg later refused to allow it.
Williams’ model is designed to “delineate and explain the effects of ostracism upon the person or group being ostracized”. He concludes that continual exposure to incidents of ostracism can lead to “detrimental psychological effects,” similar to Anderson’s characters in Winesburg. Enoch Robinson, Jesse Bentley, Wing Biddlebaum all experience social isolation that is often physical and sometimes psychological. This isolation is not something the target causes, but it is something society perpetuates. Williams explained this behavior using his model: “Instead attempting to regain their lost or threatened requirements, the target is likely to succumb to the needs of the lost and internalize that loss.” (64).
We can see that ostracism is a cycle through Anderson’s experiences and Williams’ conclusions. A man’s initial alienation can lead to a host of other characteristics, which make him more distant from his community. The victims are self-stigmatized when they recognize the differences between themselves and “others”. Williams’ theory states that the victims become self-stigmatized when they see the difference between themselves and “others”. This form of ostracism has the tragic result of slowly fading into oblivion. Their suffering is long-lasting and continues throughout their difficult lives. Their ostracism acts like an undertow pulling their farther from the sea.
Works citées
Anderson, Sherwood. Winesburg, Ohio. Bantam Books published a version of New York in 1995.
Williams, Kipling. Ostracism. The Guilford Press published London in 2001.
