Sherwood Anderson And His "Small-town Complex

Economic globalization is booming across the world. Its influence is not merely on the field of economy. Following it,cultural and literature study in the present context of globalization also become the inevitable topics being discussed. The development of modern communication media has narrowed the gaps between people and colored the living world. Thus,traditional literature,which is passed on by means of printing skill and is understood by the readers' action of reading,is facing a great challenge and threat. Some people even worry that in the age of globalization,and in the kingdom of hi-technology,literature,philosophy,psychoanalysis and love letters would disappear. These anxieties might be a little exaggerated. But they do make us consider questions as:Will literature and literature studies disappear in the age of globalization? How should we treat the smalltown literature in the age of "non-globalization" - the machine age?Sherwood Anderson,the writer who became mature at the beginning of last century and was acknowledged as " the father of my generation of American writers" by William Faulkner,not only influenced such outstanding literature talents as Hemingway and Faulkner,but also discovered the Eden of "small towns" to show his wisdom and talent on the small town literature. Anderson supplies the readers with the space to imagine and makes them recall the living spirit,the culture and beauty of the small towns."Winesburg",the world-famous small town in literature is just a vivid copy of Anderson's hometown Camden in Ohio. During his boyhood,Anderson moved between the Ohio small towns of Camden,Clyde and Elyria. His father,a harness-maker;his mother,living on washing clothes for others and the scenes,the experiences of the small town life are the first important factors that caused his "small-town complex". When he later gave up the career as a businessman and became a writer,he always made the small towns as the background of his works. American literature originates from the mid-west of America. Living on this land of America,Anderson was deeply influenced by the literary tradition and the stream of thoughts of the time on that land. lie discovered myths and beauty in this land,and found the American spirit flowing in the blood of the small-towners. Anderson is a naturalist who worships the landscapes of the mid-western small towns. He highly praised the land and the cornfield;he eulogized the richness and fertility. The mid-western small towns were not only the place he was proud of,but also the place the Americans were proud of. Anderson is also a catcher of the souls of the small towns. He discovered the truths and beauty in the small town lives. At the machine age,the tranquility of the small town life was disturbed by the mass production,and the small-towners became nearly the twisted apples that were discarded behind the orchard. Hut itwas the twisted apples that tasted sweeter. The blood of hungering for love and life also flowed in their bodies. Anderson is the spokesman of the small-town dreamers,too. American dream,the passion of longing for freedom,success and being rich died away and grew out again and again in the minds of generations,including the small-towners. By the alertness of his inspiration,Anderson captured the mysteries of the small-town life,as well as that of the triumph of the eggs. Anderson is the researcher of the Mid-western smalltown culture. As a small-towner,Anderson stepped into the life of the small-towners so skillfully that he could touch the souls of the small-towners,and perceive the quietness and leisure of the culture in the small towns. Anderson pays close attention to the small-towners,to their life,and to the women there. It is not rare to see women in the literary works. But it is noticeable that Sherwood Anderson discovered the beauty and grieves of the common women in the small towns.In "The American Small Town" Anderson wrote:"Love of a town and a countryside,like love of a woman ... Whatever the reason,my town and countryside seem especi...