Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Thompson, Drew Kennedy
Author's Email Address	dthom35@lsu.edu
URN	etd-05152009-144335
Title	Wendell Berry and the Politics of Homecoming: Place, Memory and Time in Jayber Crow
Degree	Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department	Political Science
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Cecil L. Eubanks Committee Chair Ellis Sandoz Committee Member T. Wayne Parent Committee Member
Keywords	self modernity creation decline rituals of domesticity agrarian membership political philosophy political theory politics and literature
Date of Defense	2009-04-30
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study examines the “politics of homecoming” appearing in author Wendell Berry’s novel Jayber Crow. The novel portrays the community of a small rural town, as narrated through the autobiography of its bachelor barber. The life-story of Jayber Crow is a journey of homecoming, progressing through three stages of nativity, estrangement, and restoration. These phases correspond and interact with philosophical motifs that can be traced throughout Berry’s corpus, but reaching their fullest expression in Jayber Crow. “Place” is the first motif, and facilitates a discussion of Berry’s contemporary agrarian vision of community. “Memory,” the second motif, becomes effective during the self’s estrangement, and enables its return to authentic community. Memory is discussed in the context of Berry’s critique of modernity. The final motif, “Time,” is important for its implications for membership, which is Berry’s ideal of the authentic community. This concept of membership appears throughout the essay, having both practical political, as well as metaphysical aspects important to the discussion. Ultimately, membership informs all political associations, as well as pointing to the proper relationship between man and creation. In this light, Berry’s politics of homecoming offers unique and bold insights into the nature and purpose of human society. His political vision is directed toward the restoration of health to the human soul, the reunification of authentic communities, and ultimately, the reconciliation of all mankind to the divine order of creation.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    thompsonthesis.pdf 717.55 Kb 00:03:19 00:01:42 00:01:29 00:00:44 00:00:03

If you have questions or technical problems, please Contact LSU-ETD Support.