Sunday, April 7, 2013

"Sophistication", Sherwood Anderson

It is sometime in the early 20th century, and George Willard of Ohio is pining over Helen White. Helen White is pining over George Willard. The thing that I enjoyed most about this story, however, is not the characters, or the plot, but the underlying theme of what love really is: " 'I have come to this lonely place and here is this other,' was the substance of the thing felt,' " says Willard. No matter that Helen White is a banker's daughter and courting men much higher up than George; no matter that George is just a village boy and Helen's parents don't approve; no matter that their socioeconomic differences in status should be keeping them apart.  Anderson's lyrical prose emphasizes the one of the most basic human yearnings: to love and be loved, or even more simpler than that: to just not be alone in this vast universe of ours.
- Katherine

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