If he is highly sexed, like Erik Dorn, the
other figures appear in terms of sex, just as certain rays of
light will bring out only one color in the objects they shine
against.
The novel, in fact, has melted and run down into a diary, with
sometimes no unity except the personality whose sensations are
recorded. Many of us have wished to see the conventional story
forms broken to bits. It was getting so that the first sentence ofa
short story or the first chapter of a novel gave the whole show
away. We welcomed the English stories of a decade ago that began
to give the complexities of life instead of the conventions of a
plot. But this complete liquidation rather appals us.
The novels I have mentioned so far in this article have all
together not enough plot to set up one lively Victorian novel.
Benet, Dos Passos, Fitzgerald--the flood-gates of each mind have
been opened, and all that the years had dammed up bursts forth in
a deluge of waters, carrying flotsam and jetsam and good things
and mud.
It is not surprising that, having given up plot, these writers
escape from other restraints also. The more energetic among them
revel in expression, and it seems to make little difference
whether it is the exquisite chiaroscuro of Chicago they are
describing, or spots on a greasy apron.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195