SOUTH GOTHIC IN THE NOVEL BY CORMAC MACCARTHY “CHILD OF GOD”: DISCOURSE OF HORROR AND CRIME APOLOGY

Abstract

Introduction. This article is dedicated to typological features of south gothic in the novel “Child of God” by Cormac McCarthy. The author combines features of a classic  gothic novel with traditions of American South, focuses on social problems and naturalism of crime.Purpose. Purpose of the article is to highlight main artistic features in the novel “Child of God” by Cormac McCarthy.Originality. Contemporary researches of south gothic literature are not enough to shed light on the main principles of this literary direction. Discourse of horrific and crime apology are firstly analyzed in the context of the South Gothic in the novel “Child of God” by Cormac McCarthy.Results.  The novel “Child of God” by Cormac McCarthy depicts vivid features of the South Gothics. In the analysis the plot of the novel is attempted to be analyzed in the context of such features as ‘horrible crime’ and isolation of the character with inclination for cruelty.   The action place is Sevier, a small provincial town, where people know each other well. The novel consists of three parts and the main character Lester Ballard is presented as dirty, rude and cruel person. Lester’s life was full of tragic events since childhood. His father committed a suicide and mother went away. The author describes it emotionless. Cormac McCarthy gradually depicts moral and psychological degradation of the main character. Finally Lester started living in the mountains where he was absolutely alone. He did not stop on killing one girl; he continually killed girls as a ‘hunter’.  The person who committed so many crimes had no regrets and avoided punishment. Probably author gives an ironic name to his novel “Child of God” to declare that not always crime is sentenced because of people’s indifference.Conclusions.   In the whole novel author attempts to depict artistic details which present crime as a normal item of everyday life in South America. Asocial behavior of the main character, his sick imagination, subconscious desires become powerful motifs of the gothic discourse. Crime in the novel is metaphysic fulfilment of world evil. Hero is a victim and a murderer at the same time and does not realize horrible consequences of his actions. All these aspects allow concluding that author touches problems which have not been covered by other representatives of south gothics.