Lost in the Well: Raymond Carver's Reading of Jack London's Primitive Male in "Where I'm Calling From"

遺失在井中－雷蒙•卡佛在＜我叫喚之處＞中對傑克•倫敦之原始男性的解讀

10.29737/SJFLL.200603.0003

葉卓爾(Joel J. Janicki)

祖型重現 ； 酗酒 ； 男性心理 ； 井 ； 野人 ； atavism ； alcohol ； male psyche ； wild man ； the well

東吳外語學報

22期（2006 / 03 / 01）

65 - 84

英文

Raymond Carver (1938-1988) has emerged as a master of the contemporary short story, one of his major themes dealing with the effects of alcoholism on his male protagonists. The present study is an attempt to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the modem male psyche through the analysis of Carver's story here ”Where Calling From” (1983). In order to provide a broader perspective for the reader within the American literary tradition, Jack London's life and literary and autobiographical works have been brought into play, justified by the repeated allusions to London within Carver's own story. Three works by London are considered in the paper: The Call of the Wild (1903) and ”To Build a Fire” (1908) which are explicitly referred to in ”Where I'm Calling From” as well as London's alcoholic memoirs John Barleycorn (1913). The first work brings into play the notion of atavism or the reversion of the male to his primitive psychic identity while the second work serves to dramatize the suffocating sense of isolation and desperation experienced by the stricken alcoholic. A careful reading of John Barleycorn reveals its affinity with the setting, theme and controlling imagery of Carver's powerful tale. Thus, the most telling symbol in Carver's story is that of the well, derived from John Barleycorn, which Carver exploits masterfully in the narrative projection from the lower depths and the revelation of the vulnerability and utter dependency of the erstwhile descendent and devotee of the ”strenuous” life.

Raymond Carver (1938-1988) has emerged as a master of the contemporary short story, one of his major themes dealing with the effects of alcoholism on his male protagonists. The present study is an attempt to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the modem male psyche through the analysis of Carver's story here ”Where Calling From” (1983). In order to provide a broader perspective for the reader within the American literary tradition, Jack London's life and literary and autobiographical works have been brought into play, justified by the repeated allusions to London within Carver's own story. Three works by London are considered in the paper: The Call of the Wild (1903) and ”To Build a Fire” (1908) which are explicitly referred to in ”Where I'm Calling From” as well as London's alcoholic memoirs John Barleycorn (1913). The first work brings into play the notion of atavism or the reversion of the male to his primitive psychic identity while the second work serves to dramatize the suffocating sense of isolation and desperation experienced by the stricken alcoholic. A careful reading of John Barleycorn reveals its affinity with the setting, theme and controlling imagery of Carver's powerful tale. Thus, the most telling symbol in Carver's story is that of the well, derived from John Barleycorn, which Carver exploits masterfully in the narrative projection from the lower depths and the revelation of the vulnerability and utter dependency of the erstwhile descendent and devotee of the ”strenuous” life.

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