Throughout Postcards, Proulx presents a bleak of vision of life that is violently sad. Trapped in this unforgiving landscape; the characters are bound to their farm. With no chance of escape; the characters are seen as having no free will. Their fate is determined by their inability to adapt to the fast moving capitalism of America in the 40’s. Capitalism “nips all aspirations in the bud” which is clearly seen through the inevitable decline of the farm. As America progresses, the Blood family regresses. Irrespective of what they do or hard they work; no one can escape their destiny once their fate is sealed.
In a singular moment of violence, the path of Loyal Blood’s life changes forever, as he runs from his sinful past and tries like so many others to find solace and …show more content…
This ‘punishment’ causes the downward spiral of not only himself, but all those around him. Ironically Loyal is the character who loved the farm the most, yet he is the only one cast out. Billy, his girlfriend was desperate to leave.
Furthermore, in a novel where several characters see their only hope of escaping a vicious cycle is by fleeing. Loyal, the only character who wants to stay, has his connection with the land brutally severed. “He, who’d never thought beyond the farm, never wanted anything but the farm, was on his way. Clenching the steering wheel.” The modal verb ‘never’ shows how is attachment to the farm was strong. It was so important, that there were no other options in his life. Furthermore the repetition of ‘never’ reinforces Loyal’s helplessness as he drifts from one place to another, trying to find somewhere he belongs. As Dorian writes, he has an ‘almost visceral attachment’ to the farm. But all this carnage stems from the violence of the rape he committed. It’s a violence that not only categorises all of Proulx’s novels but also the inception of
In a singular moment of violence, the path of Loyal Blood’s life changes forever, as he runs from his sinful past and tries like so many others to find solace and …show more content…
This ‘punishment’ causes the downward spiral of not only himself, but all those around him. Ironically Loyal is the character who loved the farm the most, yet he is the only one cast out. Billy, his girlfriend was desperate to leave.
Furthermore, in a novel where several characters see their only hope of escaping a vicious cycle is by fleeing. Loyal, the only character who wants to stay, has his connection with the land brutally severed. “He, who’d never thought beyond the farm, never wanted anything but the farm, was on his way. Clenching the steering wheel.” The modal verb ‘never’ shows how is attachment to the farm was strong. It was so important, that there were no other options in his life. Furthermore the repetition of ‘never’ reinforces Loyal’s helplessness as he drifts from one place to another, trying to find somewhere he belongs. As Dorian writes, he has an ‘almost visceral attachment’ to the farm. But all this carnage stems from the violence of the rape he committed. It’s a violence that not only categorises all of Proulx’s novels but also the inception of