Marching Through A Novel By John Updike Analysis
In the poem “Marching Through a Novel” by John Updike, the novelists conveys the submissive nature of his characters in the trusting relationship they have with the novelist. Through the metaphor of war, the soldiers -characters- show obedience towards their general -the novelist. The general starts of by illustrating the characters with “misty faces” which gives the reader the impression that they cannot be seen clearly. This could be literal seeing as the novelist goes on to talk about landscape, or it could mean that at this point in the poem they are not familiar with each other. As the novel progresses, the faces of the soldiers will become more clear as the general begins to inform the reader more about their relationship. It can also be inferred that the soldiers are not forced to be there because the word “willingly” was added to the first sentence. This shows that they are ready to follow any orders the general gives them. This however causes conflict in the general because
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They make any changes the novelist requests. Going as far as improvising for holes that the novelist left in the plot, “develop a motive backwards to suit the deed that’s done”. The soldiers will then “extend skeletal arms for the handcuffs of contrivance” which is when Updike merges the informing metaphor of the poem, and the novelist and characters. That quote simply states that the soldiers will be prisoners of the novelist’s ideas and wishes. They follow the general blindly in exchange for the novelist developing; “...look toward me hopefully, their general and quartermaster, for a clearer face, a bigger heart.” They will allow the relationship to be guided by the general as long as they are given commands with conclusive results which, in regards to the novelist and characters, means that they want a resolution for their
They make any changes the novelist requests. Going as far as improvising for holes that the novelist left in the plot, “develop a motive backwards to suit the deed that’s done”. The soldiers will then “extend skeletal arms for the handcuffs of contrivance” which is when Updike merges the informing metaphor of the poem, and the novelist and characters. That quote simply states that the soldiers will be prisoners of the novelist’s ideas and wishes. They follow the general blindly in exchange for the novelist developing; “...look toward me hopefully, their general and quartermaster, for a clearer face, a bigger heart.” They will allow the relationship to be guided by the general as long as they are given commands with conclusive results which, in regards to the novelist and characters, means that they want a resolution for their