The Masculine Influence on One Foot in Eden
Introduction
While reading One Foot in Eden, written by Ron Rash, one can depict that he uses several different perspectives to unravel various aspects of the novel. Ron Rash presents distinct important male characters in diverse ways. The concept of male characters, interpreted in this novel illustrates how they are tied down by familiar societal beliefs and culture. The men within this novel are expected by society to never fail as they are faced with numerous challenges throughout the novel. Men’s roles in the South during the mid-twentieth century influenced these important male characters in the novel. As a result, the traditional Jocassee must end and a new South must emerge.
Recognition within character
Initially, it is crucial to acknowledge that One Foot in Eden is based upon five key characters who portray diverse situations, particularly in first person point of view. Four of the five characters are men consisting of a sheriff, deputy, husband and son. During the introduction, the Sheriff and the Deputy are introduced with minor concern of their actual identity. However, they were identified mainly by their social duty and not by their real names. Thus, their own identity is not of importance but their role in society is. This is a fitting instance to illustrate the pressure men were put under during this time period by the society. These two lawmen’s involvement can be seen during their investigation of a murder in the 1950s. According to history, it is attainable to recognize some of the occurrences that would have taken place during this time. Since this was a time when men were coming back from the Korean War. Then 20 years later, the Vietnam War begun leading to many deaths of American and Vietnamese men. Certainly the more challenging jobs were assigned amongst the men during this time.
While discussing the role of men, the intuitiveness of war cannot be ignored even though it isn’t spoken much about in the novel. Masculinity is evaluated by nearly all brutal incidents in human history. These evaluations are not irregular but consistent thought a man’s life. In Violent Adventure written by Marilyn Wesley, it is apparent that she shares the same views. Marilyn states that “stories of war link the ideals of particular communities to the promise of male maturity and masculine empowerment” (Wesley 83). In other words, to find out the occurrences that men were faced with, one should use the history of war in a society. However, this tendency could change, with reference to the duty that males are allocated to endure within the society.
Loss influenced by masculinity
The novel One Foot in Eden has revealed the classic world that is documented in history. This is a universe that consists of male heroes, whose accomplishments are mentioned for quite some time after their downfall. Nearly all of the grand deeds have been revealed as ones that are regulated and completed by the men in the society. These grand deeds were not easily obtained, but his didn’t stop the heroes from accomplishing them. However, the novel pays close attention to the experiences that the males had to undergo in order to obtain the individual accomplishments. Their effect on society is unique, they have been revealed as feeble people, who struggle to function accordingly. However, the women throughout the novel don’t suffer the same complications. Within the novel, Amy uses the weakness of the male characters around her to her advantage. A modification should be created for the roles of men in the society and the literal details that establish them.
The Deputy is a prime example of the burden that men in the South had to endure. The Deputy is forced to watch his home town and the land of his ancestors flood for the wellness of society. He has to sacrifice his personal wellbeing for the sake of the community. Of course this happens because development has to take place within the community. This is just one of the instances where he must make personal sacrifices for the society. In the community, there are wise men, but they have been depicted to fail, for the pure reason being that they are males. One prime example of this would be the Sheriff, he has been depicted as a wise a man. He can also be seen as the hero trying to solve a murder case and find the murderer. However, like any other man in the novel he suffers the same fate. He struggles to manage his investigations with a clear head. The reason behind this is because he has complications at home with his wife becoming disloyal, resulting in them being torn apart (Spill 103).
Hardships influenced by masculinity
In the novel, the reason behind the murder has been explained very well. In the mid-twentieth century, there was a woman who longed for a child. This woman was known by the name of Amy, she is the only major female character in the novel. As mention before hand, she uses the male characters’ weaknesses to her advantage. She finds herself torn between two men that have come to be in her life. Her husband, however, couldn’t give her what she longed for, a child. This developed a crisis within the novel, which ultimately led the downfall of several male characters. The woman is seen to be safe and taken care of with several options around her to choose from. However, the men that surround her are not safe from each other.
Throughout the novel the role that is not respected is the male role. The male gender is defined by distinguishing characteristics and qualities. Society tends to categorize men together despite that every man is unique and has his own qualifications. Solomon-Godeau has stated that “masculinity is, like femininity, a concept that bears only an adventitious relation to biological sex and whose various manifestations collectively constitute the cultural, social, and psychosexual expression of gender” (Solomon-Godeau 71). In other words, the distinguishing characteristics and qualities that commence with masculinity have been portrayed as ones that are liable to change. In the novel, One Foot in Eden, Rash uses different characters with very different qualities to express masculinity within them. Society and the surroundings of a character play a vital role in how masculinity evolves. However, it doesn’t empower the males of a society. Instead, it allows them to feel like a part of the society, which is then used to define them. Society should produce modifications to adjust this idea, if a young boy is to believe in their personal achievements.
Other Factors and Female Impact