The Web and the Rock: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Web and the Rock" delves into the complexities of major characters, particularly focusing on George Webber, a lonely and introspective young man from Libya Hill, North Carolina. Raised by his aunt and uncle after his mother's death, George grapples with feelings of isolation and a longing for a richer understanding of life, steeped in his experiences as both a reader and an aspiring writer. After moving to New York City, he discovers that the bustling environment does not alleviate his loneliness, prompting a journey of self-exploration that includes a transformative love affair with Mrs. Esther Jack. Esther, a successful stage set designer, plays a pivotal role in George's life, guiding him through the intricacies of creativity and the realities beyond fame. Their relationship, marked by significant age differences and emotional intensity, ultimately leads George to confront the fine line between dependency and artistic freedom. Other familial figures, such as George's uncle and aunt, as well as his estranged father, further shape his identity and perceptions. The narrative invites readers to reflect on themes of love, self-discovery, and the struggle between personal ambition and relational dynamics.
The Web and the Rock: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Thomas Wolfe
First published: 1939
Genre: Novel
Locale: North Carolina, New York, and Europe
Plot: Impressionistic realism
Time: 1900–1928
George Webber, a lonely child reared by a family-proud aunt and uncle in the small city of Libya Hill, North Carolina. His childhood is the bleak existence of a youngster taken up by charity. As a youth, he is an omnivorous, voracious reader who yearns to acquire the power of writing great novels, hoping someday to write about the two-sided world he knows, that of the rich and the poor. After attending college, George moves to New York City, only to find that he is as lonely among the big city's millions of people as he was in a small town. Even a trip to Europe gives him no satisfaction, for he is a silent, brooding, and distrustful man. His salvation, ultimately, is a love affair lasting several years, an experience that brings him out of himself. His mistress helps him lose his childish illusions about fame and greatness. His self-knowledge becomes complete when, during a trip to Europe, he awakens in a hospital after a sordid brawl to recognize that life is knowing one's self completely.
Mrs. Esther Jack, a successful, well-known designer of stage sets in New York City. She meets George Webber aboard ship, falls in love with him, and becomes his mistress and counselor for several years, although she is fifteen or twenty years older than her lover. She takes George to meet many well-known people and helps him to realize that life is more than mere fame. She encourages George to write, and with her help his long-sought novel begins to take shape. She dominates George so much, however, that he is forced to leave her, lest her very goodness and love become his undoing as a writer.
Mr. and Mrs. Joyner, George's uncle and aunt, who rear him after his mother's death. They are proud of their family and try to turn the boy against his father.
Mr. Webber, George's father, who deserts his wife and child to run off with another woman. Despite his father's behavior, George loves and admires the man. Mr. Webber's death brings George a small inheritance that enables him to attend college and to travel to Europe.