The Seasons of Winesburg, Ohio

The Seasons of Winesburg, Ohio

Preparing for the mini seminar for last Thursday really helped me see the patterns of seasons, weather, and just the whole interrelation of the characters in Winesburg, Ohio. My story assigned to me was 'Paper Pills'. I never knew there was so much correlation with one story to another until I read 'Paper Pills' over and over again.

Doctor Reefy meets the tall dark girl on a summer afternoon. She and the doctor connect in a way where the doctor is able to share his truths with the girl, and she in return, can understand him. The connection is like the apples Doctor Reefy talks about. He knows the sweetness of the twisted apples, and the tall dark girl is able to realize the beauty in the disfigurement as well. However, the girl dies the following spring, taking Doctor Reefy's happiness with her. "During the winter he read to her all of the odds and ends of thoughts he had scribbled on the bits of paper" (12); this action infers that the reminiscence of his wife has taken away any joy of life. The point I wish to make is that the doctor reads the truths during the winter, and that "he formed a truth that arose gigantic in his mind. The truth clouded the world. It became terrible and then faded away and the little thoughts began again" (11). The word cloud can infer a coming of a storm, rain, or snow. Although it comes, it cannot stay, which is why the truths shrink back into small thoughts.

If you look at the later parts of the novel, Reverend Curtis Hartman sits "One night in January when it was bitter cold and snow lay deep on the streets of Winesburg..." (90) to peep on Kate Swift. However, it is on that very night that the reverend experiences the moment of truth which sends him running the street to proclaim the message of truth. I feel like the reason Reverend Hartman is able to have the realization is because of Doctor Reefy. The fact that Doctor Reefy reads the truths during the winter and the truths cloud the world connect with how the truth is instilled inside of the reverend in the snowy night of January. Doctor Reefy sends and reveals the truths one by one and the characters in the novel experience the moment of truth.

In "Adventure", Alice, during her depressed reflection about growing old all alone, "For a moment she stood by the window hearing the rain beat against the glass and then a strange desire took possession of her... Not for years had she felt so full of youth and courage" (67). The truth takes hold of Alice and sends her running out in the rain naked. Although Alice is able to realize the truth, she cannot keep it because "it became terrible and then faded away..." (11). She is not strong enough to live in youth because another truth already possesses her.

            Kate Swift also becomes young during the winter night of a storm. “Alone in the night in the winter streets she was lovely” (95). The harsh and sharp features of her figure becomes beautiful and “were as the features of a tiny goddess on a pedestal in a garden in the dim light of a summer evening” (95). Summer indicates liveliness, youth, and passion, in which Kate is a beautiful youth. She doesn’t become fatigued even after hours of walking in the cold. The passion that takes hold of her sends her to George Willard, but because George does not realize the truth, Kate is snapped back into reality. She cries in her room after the truth leaves her.

            The moments of truth touch the character in different ways. However, the truth of youth, sent by Doctor Reefy, cannot dwell in the hearts of the characters for long because they have already become grotesque.