The Failure to Adventure

Adventure, an idea that is prominent in three chapters (so far) of Winesburg, Ohio, seems to be detrimental to those who attempt such a feat. George Willard, his mother, and Alice Hindman all fail in their quests, causing each individual to lose a part of themselves.

This idea is first expressed in the chapter titled, "Mother," when "plunged in gloom, Elizabeth Willard had an adventure." (page 27) Before her failure even occurs, the imagery of the passage sets the tone for future events. Nearly every paragraph makes a mention of the darkness or gloom of the hallways through which Mother Willard travels. The overbearing darkness seems to choke any possibility of success out of the adventure, foreshadowing the events that are to come. Elizabeth travels to her son's room, only to hear her husband giving George advice that "infuriated the women." (page 28) In her rage, Mrs. Willard decides to stab her own husband but fails in the resolution of the adventure when, "the strength that had been a miracle in her body left." (page 32) This failure to complete her mission, the goal derived from her adventure, represents Elizabeth's inability to counteract her husband's overly-ambitious and hateful nature. In the end, "the expression of joy" (page 33) becomes impossible for her. She loses all hope she originally possessed and becomes a completely empty, soulless creature.

Similarly her own son, George Willard, loses parts of himself in his adventure that takes place in a later chapter titled “Nobody Knows.” In this chapter, George Willard embarks on an adventure that brings him close to a woman named Louise Trunnion. During their meeting, he becomes “wholly the male, bold and aggressive. In his heart there was no sympathy for her.” (page 46) The two then escape into rural parts of the town, after which George returns alone, wishing to speak to “some man” (page 47). The “aggressive” nature George develops suggests that he feels possession over Louise Trunnion. This, combined with the secrecy of their meeting, suggests that Louise is a prostitute. When the two sneak away, Louise being a prostitute, it is likely that they have sex. Thus, George’s adventure is supposed to make him into a man by his sexual possession of Louise. This idea of his rebirth into a man is compounded by the picture of rain falling when he returns as well as his desire to be in the presence of another man. While all seems to have gone smoothly in George’s adventure, his apparent nervousness on page 47 suggests that the adventure was actually a complete failure. Also, George continuously tries to convince himself that Louise has nothing on him. This fear and overcompensation demonstrate the control Louise has over George, and thus demonstrate that George failed in his adventure’s goal –to become a man –by becoming the servant to a woman.

The final example, presented in the chapter actually titled “Adventure” has many of the same ideas expressed above; however, because I believe it could connect with other parts of the book, I will save the discussion of this section for a later time.