Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West
This study argues that in Blood Meridian (1985) McCarthy creates landscape scenes that function as narrative commentary on the Glanton gang’s Indian-fighting, on America’s pursuit of Manifest Destiny, and on humanity’s innate aptitude for violence. The article surveys the biographical evidence for M...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Association for American Studies
2017-12-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of American Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12259 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841558243994763264 |
|---|---|
| author | Dianne C. Luce |
| author_facet | Dianne C. Luce |
| author_sort | Dianne C. Luce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study argues that in Blood Meridian (1985) McCarthy creates landscape scenes that function as narrative commentary on the Glanton gang’s Indian-fighting, on America’s pursuit of Manifest Destiny, and on humanity’s innate aptitude for violence. The article surveys the biographical evidence for McCarthy’s interest in the visual arts, then inventories the language of art in Blood Meridian and explores the novel’s allusions to specific artworks. It culminates in readings of several scenes in which the narrator interprets the landscape before him in moments of sober contemplation. Each of these scenes bears a title reminiscent of painted landscapes, such as “Under the Animas peaks” or “Night scene with moon, blossoms, judge.” Each comprises a static composition that slows the violent action and also functions as a prose poem, rich in allusiveness. Evoking in the reader the perceptual and interpretive modes of a pensive viewer of a painted landscape, these scenes invite us to apply techniques drawn from art criticism to comprehend them as the narrator’s sober meditations on the Glanton gang’s violent enterprise. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e5295ee6a514e949827e22da80982b6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1991-9336 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | European Association for American Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of American Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e5295ee6a514e949827e22da80982b62025-01-06T09:09:15ZengEuropean Association for American StudiesEuropean Journal of American Studies1991-93362017-12-0112310.4000/ejas.12259Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the WestDianne C. LuceThis study argues that in Blood Meridian (1985) McCarthy creates landscape scenes that function as narrative commentary on the Glanton gang’s Indian-fighting, on America’s pursuit of Manifest Destiny, and on humanity’s innate aptitude for violence. The article surveys the biographical evidence for McCarthy’s interest in the visual arts, then inventories the language of art in Blood Meridian and explores the novel’s allusions to specific artworks. It culminates in readings of several scenes in which the narrator interprets the landscape before him in moments of sober contemplation. Each of these scenes bears a title reminiscent of painted landscapes, such as “Under the Animas peaks” or “Night scene with moon, blossoms, judge.” Each comprises a static composition that slows the violent action and also functions as a prose poem, rich in allusiveness. Evoking in the reader the perceptual and interpretive modes of a pensive viewer of a painted landscape, these scenes invite us to apply techniques drawn from art criticism to comprehend them as the narrator’s sober meditations on the Glanton gang’s violent enterprise.https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12259visual artslandscapesethicsbiography.Blood Meridian |
| spellingShingle | Dianne C. Luce Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West European Journal of American Studies visual arts landscapes ethics biography. Blood Meridian |
| title | Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West |
| title_full | Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West |
| title_fullStr | Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West |
| title_short | Landscapes as Narrative Commentary in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West |
| title_sort | landscapes as narrative commentary in cormac mccarthy s blood meridian or the evening redness in the west |
| topic | visual arts landscapes ethics biography. Blood Meridian |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ejas/12259 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diannecluce landscapesasnarrativecommentaryincormacmccarthysbloodmeridianortheeveningrednessinthewest |