The Dangers of Chasing an Ideal Life
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence begins, "We hold these truths to be self-evident." The concept of a truth is an incontestable fact—something that can be held self-evident. In Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson shows the danger of holding questionable "truths" to be self-evident. Anderson’s truths are a man-made “composite of a great many vague thoughts” that came into being as ideas, or thoughts untouched by Man. Holders of the “truths” become grotesques, defined by Anderson as a character who “takes one of the many truths in life and pursues it obsessively.” The truths for Anderson’s characters are not so much facts as they are paradigms of what the characters envision as aspects of a “perfect life;” chasing these ideals causes the individual to evolve into a grotesque, consequencting in a distorted truth.
Seth Richmond chases the truth of expression. The people of Winesburg call him the “deep one” but he is just unable to express himself, like Cowley. Even while being scolded by his mother, Seth was unable to express the reaction his mother expected. Seth also couldn’t “laugh boisterously, shout meaningless jokes” and act like the other children. When Seth runs away form home with two other boys to drink and raid the baskets of farmers, Seth immediately wished to turn back. Instead of turning back like he would like to, Seth stayed with the boys until they were ready. Seth knew his mother would be worried but he also felt that he would be disappointed in himself if he were to turn back; however, he was unable to turn back. Seth took no initiative in turning back because he was incapable of turning back, no matter how much he desired to. Seth wishes to express himself, but is unable to do so because he does not deem either of his choices to be honest. To voice his wish to stay is unnecessary and to voice his wish to leave would betray the truth. Seth also inadequately...