Poor White: Analysis of Major Characters
"Poor White" is a novel that explores the complexities of life in a Midwestern American town at the turn of the century, focusing on the impact of technology and personal relationships. Central to the narrative is Hugh McVey, an inventive genius whose rise from poverty to success highlights the transformative yet problematic nature of industrial progress. Alongside him is Steve Hunter, his business partner, who plays a pivotal role in promoting McVey’s inventions and securing the investment needed to establish a successful manufacturing plant, which benefits the town of Bidwell.
The story also delves into the personal struggles of characters like Clara Butterworth, McVey's melancholy wife, whose sudden life changes and challenging marriage reflect broader themes of personal fulfillment and emotional connection. Joe Wainsworth, a local harness maker, experiences a tragic downfall after investing in McVey's invention, leading to violent consequences that underscore the darker side of ambition and desperation. Other characters, such as Sarah and Henry Shepard, provide critical support in McVey's life, while the complex dynamics between these figures contribute to a rich tapestry of human experience and societal change. Overall, "Poor White" offers a poignant examination of ambition, technology, and the emotional toll of progress.
Poor White: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Sherwood Anderson
First published: 1920
Genre: Novel
Locale: Missouri and Ohio
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: 1880–1900
Hugh McVey, a Midwestern American whose genius for inventing and manufacturing machinery accounts for his rise from drab poverty to material success. He is, according to many critics, Anderson's example of the force that produced the problems attendant on the impact of technology upon rural America at the turn of the century.
Steve Hunter, McVey's partner in business. He is a capable publicist who convinces the town fathers of Bidwell to invest in a plant to manufacture McVey's invention. The plant makes the town prosperous.
Clara Butterworth, a rather shy, plain, melancholy girl who in a week's time abandons her studies at the state university, returns to Bidwell, falls in love with McVey, and elopes with him. She is not suited by temperament to a man like McVey, and their marriage becomes a strained relationship. Adversity and the prospect of a child finally bring them together.
Joe Wainsworth, a harness maker who invests his savings in McVey's invention and is almost financially ruined when the money is lost. The reversal disturbs his disposition, and he becomes sullen and irritable. A trivial incident sets him off and, seriously deranged, he kills his employee, shoots Steve Hunter, and tries to strangle McVey.
Sarah Shepard, McVey's foster mother, who instills in him respect for knowledge, hard work, social success, and industrial progress.
Henry Shepard, Sarah's husband and McVey's first employer. He befriends McVey and provides a home for him.
Jim Gibson, a braggart, Wainsworth's employee. His boast precipitates Wainsworth's derangement and its concomitant violence. Gibson becomes Wainsworth's first victim.
Tom Butterworth, Clara's father, the richest man in town.
Allie Mulberry, a simple-minded workman who makes a model of McVey's invention.