The Bible, Beckett, and the German Literary Tradition

   In William Quirk's article about The Sunset Limited expressed that it was obviously about literature. Most of the conversation Black and White partake in is about books. I thought it was very interesting when William made the observation that the way we break down the conversation between the two is how we will break down and understand McCarthy's text. 

           

                                       

  

    I feel like this observation can also explain Black and White's thought process and how we understand them. Most of their conversation is about pieces of literature that have been prominent in their lives.  With the back and forth questions and answers revealed that White is/was a firm believer in literature in general. Black on the other hand, is a firm believer in a piece of literature. Maybe that is White's problem? He puts his faith in such a broad category that when pieces of it start to fail he believes that the few/one left cannot hold their own. I feel like White thinks that one piece of literature can not stand alone and provide suitable knowledge. However, Black believes that with this one piece of literature, the Bible, comes great strength and stability. 

The Sunset Limited

I feel like there are so many different meanings behind the back and forth dialogue of this novel/ play that I had a hard time trying to figure out what to write this post on. However, something that caught my attention was White's downward spiral in talking about his need for routine culture. White expresses to Black that everything is constantly changing, and everything he once believed to be true was either already gone or slowly disappearing. I feel like that is very relatable to us today. Technology is such a great addition to our society, but it is also diminishing other amenities that some people prefer more. 

For example, most everyone older than 12, remembers going into a Blockbuster or Hollywood video to grab a movie for a sleepover they were having that night. Now you just go on Netflix or Apple Tv and stream whatever you want to watch.  Granted, this isn't a way of life, or knowledge that White taught everyday that's changing, but some changes that could eventually lead to others. I can't even remember the last time I actually hand wrote a letter, addressed it, and mailed it out. Almost everything is becoming digital. Personally, I love to read actual books that are not online or downloaded to your Kindle. I love to fold the pages, bend the binding, and physically turn each pages. Sadly, I think in the next couple of years, I will not be able to do that. 

I think this is what White was talking about, but on a much larger scale. I think he feels if he doesn't have a routine, or if things he lived were constantly changing all throughout his life, he was felt to feel as if he was surrounded by darkness. The unknown.