The Connections Between Winesburg and a Love Song

Intertexuality is the "complex interrelationship between a text and other texts." (Merriam Webster Dictionary). A clear example of intertexuatlity recently discussed in class is the relationship between Anderson’s novel, Winesburg, Ohio, and T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” The first of many connections that may be drawn is the organization on each text. Winesburg, Ohio is separated into almost independent short stories, which are only connected by George Willard, the central character in the novel. Eliot’s poem is similarly divided into separate, distinguishable sections. Each section works as part of a greater whole and is connected by the central character, J. Alfred Prufrock. Both works coincidently address a similar theme, supported by similar sub-themes. Both works primarily address the existential struggle of aging. At this point the two works begin to differ. Winesburg, Ohio focuses on a boy’s coming of age, while the poem addresses the shortness of life and its pending end. These differing subjects, however, connect due to the fact that each relays the author’s revelation through the common idea of death. Winesburg, Ohio opens with the story of an old writer (that is suspected to be George Willard). The old writer can feel his impending death fears that on any night he may die in his sleep. Similarly, a tired Alfred Prufrock nears death and seemingly accepts his coming end. In fact, it is up for debate, but it may be argued that Alfred told his love song while already dead. Death is used in both works to represent the inevitable passage that all human beings are bound to face, emphasizing the crucial need to thoroughly experience life before it ends. The second theme addressed in both works is the realization of inexistence we face as human beings. In Winesburg, Ohio, it is represented through George Willard’s coming of age and is presented by Anderson as maturity and “sophistication”. In Ellot’s poem, the theme is presented through Prufrock’s evident lack of confidence and resulting, self-inflicted, alienation from society. Prufrock compares himself to a scavenger scuttling along the seafloor, highlighting his lack of importance in the world. A smaller sub-theme that supplements the major themes in both works is the importance of communication, and the consequences of the inability to do so. The prime example in Winesburg, Ohio is Enoch Robinson. Enoch was “always a child” and unable to share his thoughts with anyone. This lack of communication led to the creation of his own imaginary world, which only reinforced his isolation from society. The day his imaginary friends left him, Enoch was left a purposeless wreck. Prufrock faced a similar barrier, as he was, for his entire life, unable to communicate his feelings with his “love”. This inability to form a connection led to his tragic downfall. The ending of Winesburg, Ohio, seems to indicate that connection is indeed the crucial component needed to avoid self-destruction. It was due to his silent but mutual connection with Helen White that George attained maturity and prepared to leave his hometown.