Manhattan Transfer is one of the earliest of that type of novels which has come to be known as „collectivistic“. The idea is to present a cross-section of the social structure, the social organism; an “over-view” of the subject in which details of individual lives merge in the general picture of society” (Belkind 1971:61).
This quotation by Allen Belkind shows that the American author John Dos Passos is not interested in individual characters and their lives in Manhattan Transfer but in how the characters solve the problems and their everyday life in a metropolis, in the city of New York.
I would like to deal with Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos which was first published in 1925. I will start with some autobiographical facts about Dos Passos to show how he grew up and how his life influenced his works. A short summary and the numeration of stylistic features of Manhattan Transfer will lead to the depiction of the city New York as the actual protagonist of this novel. There are different social groups such as immigrants or poor and rich people described in the book. I want to deal with Ellen Thatcher and Jimmy Herf as the protagonists, and I want to show how they perceive the world. This part is the main topic of this paper. There are numerous essays about the novel Manhattan Transfer and how it deals with New York. I am going to point out the images of New York and their effects on Ellen Thatcher and Jimmy Herf.
John Rodrigo Dos Passos was born in Chicago/ Illinois on January 14th 1896. He studied at Harvard University and in Spain. He used the experiences he made as ambulance driver and medic in the Great War (1914-1918). For his first novel called One Man’s Initiation (1917). It was first published in 1920. His breakthrough came in 1921 with his second war novel Three Soldiers. In 1925, he published the most significant big town novel of Modernism: Manhattan Transfer. In this novel he portrays an extensive image of New York’s social classes between 1890 and 1925. In the paper Facing the Chair, Dos Passos fought for the anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti who were executed after their political lawsuits. In his epochal masterpiece, USA, John Dos Passos raged in one "Camera Eye" episode:
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Content and Structure
2. Historical Background
3. Depiction of New York
4. Ellen Thatcher
4.1 Smell
4.2 Noise
4.3 Optical Impressions
4.4 The sense of touch
4.5 Conclusion
5. Jimmy Herf
5.1 Smell
5.2 Noise
5.3 Optical Impressions
5.4 The sense of touch
5.5 Conclusion
6. Jimmy versus Ellen
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines John Dos Passos' novel Manhattan Transfer with a primary focus on how the two protagonists, Ellen Thatcher and Jimmy Herf, perceive the urban environment of New York through their sensory experiences. It explores how the city's atmosphere, social dynamics, and historical context influence the characters' development and their eventual paths, highlighting the novel's depiction of the metropolis as a transformative force.
- The role of New York City as the primary protagonist and its structural representation.
- The influence of sensory perceptions — smell, noise, sight, and touch — on individual character psychology.
- The socio-historical background of 1890-1925 America and its impact on urban life.
- A comparative analysis of Ellen Thatcher's quest for social status versus Jimmy Herf's struggle for identity and detachment.
- The critique of social and industrial pressure within a modernist framework.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Smell
The sense of smell plays an important role for Ellen to classify interiors but also human beings. She is interested in things which are in the center: “In the middle of the bare room (MT: 172)”, “In the center of the room (MT: 193).”
Probably, she also like to be in the center of things, for example, by being successful and popular. By smelling, Ellen perceives people, for example, a big smelly man, alcohol (whiskey), food (tea, lobster), plants (roses, grass), gas, and perfume. (SOURCE)
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the "collectivistic" nature of Manhattan Transfer and outlines the author's autobiographical background and historical influence on his writing style.
1. Content and Structure: This section details the novel's symmetry and the camera-like perspective used by Dos Passos to depict the daily lives of citizens in New York.
2. Historical Background: This chapter discusses the socio-political climate of the United States between 1890 and 1925, focusing on immigration, racial conflict, and the impact of the First World War.
3. Depiction of New York: This section explores how the city is presented as a "city in motion," utilizing various negative images like machines and prisons to represent the dehumanizing nature of the metropolis.
4. Ellen Thatcher: This chapter analyzes Ellen's character development and how her world is shaped by sensory input and her desire for social success, ultimately leading to a loss of her identity.
5. Jimmy Herf: This chapter focuses on Jimmy as an outsider who struggles with the pressure of the city, using his sensory perception to analyze rather than experience the urban environment.
6. Jimmy versus Ellen: This concluding chapter compares the two protagonists, contrasting their opposing ways of dealing with the city and their eventual divergence.
Keywords
Manhattan Transfer, John Dos Passos, New York City, Ellen Thatcher, Jimmy Herf, Modernism, sensory perception, urban environment, identity, social structure, historical background, literature, Roaring Twenties, industrialization, alienation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on John Dos Passos' novel Manhattan Transfer, analyzing the worldviews of the protagonists Ellen Thatcher and Jimmy Herf within the context of 1920s New York.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include urban perception, the socio-historical conditions of early 20th-century America, the impact of industrialization on the individual, and the characters' struggles with identity and societal pressures.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to demonstrate how sensory perceptions — specifically smell, noise, sight, and touch — reveal the internal states and character development of Ellen and Jimmy.
Which scientific or analytical method is employed?
The paper uses a literary analysis approach, drawing on historical context and sociological perspectives (such as Georg Simmel's theories on the metropolis) to interpret the novel's text.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body investigates the historical setting, the symbolic representation of New York, and provides an in-depth sensory-based character study of both Ellen and Jimmy.
How would you characterize the keywords of this work?
The keywords emphasize the intersection of literary modernism, urban sociology, and character-driven narrative analysis within the specific historical timeframe of the novel.
How does the author specifically compare Ellen and Jimmy's relationship to New York?
While Ellen seeks to immerse herself in the "center" of the city to gain fame and success, Jimmy remains an observer who feels oppressed by the city and constantly seeks an escape.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Ellen Thatcher's identity?
The author concludes that Ellen's relentless pursuit of success leads her to lose her authentic personality, ultimately rendering her a "mechanical toy" at the end of the narrative.
What significance does the city's sensory environment have for Jimmy Herf?
For Jimmy, sensory input, particularly smell, serves as a tool for classification and navigation, reflecting his defensive stance and his attempt to maintain distance from the chaos of modern life.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Putzier (Author), 2007, Manhatten Transfer. Dos Passos’ depiction of the city of New York and Ellen Thatcher’s & Jimmy Herfs’ perception of the world, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/84049
