In 1938, Lockport, New York, the rural area of this place had been affected hard by the Great Depression. Few industries were running there and had suffered frequent closures and layoffs. Farm families were finding it hard to sustain meagre subsistence. In this time of hardships, Joyce Carol Oates was born. All around her were sources of anxiety and austerity but Oates drew rays of light from tiny cracks. Books, reading and nature were her solace. This foraging for life among deprivation may have been a running core theme in almost her stories and novels.
The Initial novels
At the age of 28, her first novel, With Shuddering Fall, was published. Later on Them received the National Book Award. Both reflected on the social turmoil engulfing America’s cities in the 1960s, the hardships faced by the American working class and discrimination against the lower classes.
Gothic and Suspense -
Under the pseudonym Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly, Oates has written many suspense novels like Nemesis (1990) ,Snake Eyes (1992),You Can't Catch Me (1995),Double Delight (1997) and The Stolen Heart (2005) and Blood Mask (2006).
More novels based on family drama and relationships -
Because It Is My Heart (1990) , You Must Remember This (1987) and Because It Is Bitter (1990)
Notable novels based on personal experiences -
Collection of short stories, Dear Husband released in 2007.
After the death of her husband, Raymond Smith, Oates underwent severe depression which were reflected in her memoir A Widow’s Story, published in 2011.
Oates has to her credit, many more short collections of stories as well as novels. In my blog, I would be focusing of collections Sourland, Beautiful Days and A Sentimental Education.
Sourland explores certain regular Oatesian themes - violence, loss, and excess. Few of the stories in the collection show the privileged lives of upper-class, educated widows whose sheltered married lives have left them unable to look forward in life without help, partner or caretaker.
Men are shown as predators or lurkers with motives not clear at first to the women they date or woo. Their true colours are exposed towards the climax of the stories leaving readers as well as their women shocked. There are some immigrant stories as well portraying life in America, with dreams to follow or to be fouled.
In typical Oates’ style, the stories can be very graphic encounters of physical and emotional abuse. Dark themed and very deep, it will take time as well as thick skin to really understand her mind.
Pumpkin-Head
A woman who has just lost her husband, has lost her purpose in life. She finds her days dreary and nights lonesome. In this hopeless state of things, she ends up inviting a male friend for a friendly drink. The friendship doesn't last long when he tries to sexually molest her.
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