Nathanael West - (1903-1940)
|
San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California
After the death and destruction of World War II, Nathanael West became fascinated with the hypocrisy created by the
capitalism of the 1920's. This American writer, who satirized the American Dream, wrote of the secret "inner life of the masses". This inner life was the power of dreams and desires that
ultimately lead to violence. During the Depression West's novels reveal the absurdity of the American Dream. I. Biography
West was born in 1903 in New York City, New York to Max and Anna (Wallenstein) Weinstein. His Jewish family was financially supported by his father, a construction
contractor, and spiritually supported by his mother, with her traditional Jewish influence. West showed no ambition as a young man. While attending Brown University in
Providence, Rhode Island West did not take his studies seriously. He would draw cartoons and write short surrealistic stories. During his time at Brown, West became a
friend of S.J. Perelman, who later married West's sister. In 1926, two years after graduating with a PhD, he changed his name from Nathan Weinstein to Nathanael West. He spent a
few years in Paris where he wrote his first novel, The Dream Life of Balso Snell. When West returned home he managed two small hotels, The Kenmore Hall (1927) and the
Sutton Club Hotel (1930-1933). During this time, West would provide free board to many interesting aspiring writers. In the early thirties West worked as a journalist. His
experiences as a hotel manager and journalist gave him the inspiration and material for his second novel, Miss Lonelyhearts (1933). In 1935, West moved to Hollywood and lived in a cheap, small hotel called the Pa-Va-Sed
to earn his living as a scriptwriter. Prior to finding work in the movie industry, West mingled with the outcasts of Hollywood observing and recording their lifestyles. The foundation of The Day of the Locust
is based directly on West's collection of observations. After F. Scott Fitzgerald's death, West was incredibly distraught and on December 22, 1940 he crashed his car near El Centro, California killing both he and his wife,
Eileen McKenney. II. Literary Works The Dream Life of Balso Snell - West's first novel, a collaboration of short surrealistic
sketches set in a fantasy Western civilization from the inside of the Trojan horse. This early experiment motivated West throughout his career. Miss Lonelyhearts -
His second novel about America's struggle through the Depression. It tells a story of a male newspaper columnist, pen name Miss Lonelyhearts, who becomes
deeply involved in the analysis of letters from his readers. The advice columnist becomes a therapist, preacher, and rabbi helping those in pain. By helping others he is able to live in
happiness despite the chaos and corruption surrounding him. The Day of the Locust - Although it did not receive much attention when published in 1939, The Day of the Locust
is today, considered one of the best and most revealing novels about Hollywood. The main character, Tod Hackett, heads to Hollywood in hopes of
becoming a scenic artist. The Hollywood scene proves it is not a glamorous world, but is instead a corrupt assortment of second-rate actors, writers and artists twisted and
self-absorbed by their own desires. Tod and two other men, although in Hollywood for different reasons, are all driven by their obsession for the aspiring actress, Faye Greener,
each trying to gain her love in their own selfish ways. The uncontrolled obsession characterized by West's depiction of Hollywood portrays the selfish desires in American life.
III. Los Angeles and Nathanael West in the 1930's Hollywood - Thousands of people flocked to Hollywood in the thirties in search of fulfilling
dreams of fame and money including the fictional Faye Greener, who becomes the love interest of three very different young men, in the novel The Day of the Locust. Hollywood
began making movies in 1911, when the Nestor Company opened Hollywood's first film studio. As the industry grew, the town began to accept corruption and moral indecencies
as a way to further their fame and success. West, from living and working in Hollywood, realized that its romantic glamour was artificial and its dirty secrets became a reality. Ivar Street -
The location of Chateau Mirabella where Abe, Tod's friend lived. Ivar Street is called Lysol Ally and is a gutter filled with hookers and their managers. The street runs
perpendicular to Hollywood Boulevard. West, when first arriving in Hollywood, lived in an apartment on Ivar Street. Hollywood Boulevard - Mentioned several times in The Day of the Locust, this significant
street in Los Angeles, was often the center of travel along Los Angeles for characters in the novel. This boulevard is also the home of Mann's Chinese Theater, The Palace, and The Pantages Theatre. Sunset Boulevard -
Once a star-studded street, Sunset Boulevard represented the glamour of Hollywood in its early days. The aspiring stars in The Day of the Locust would frequent
this street to surround themselves in the opulence of Hollywood. IV. Works by Nathaniel West
V. Questions for Nathanael West Due to the fact that this author is now deceased we were unable to ask him questions about his writings. We were able to locate a quote at www.phx.com between F. Scott
Fitzgerald and Nathanael West. Fitzgerald always appreciated West's work despite mixed reviews and he proved it by saying, "I go on . . . making what one critic called private and unfunny jokes."
West commented back, "You made me feel that they weren't completely private and maybe not even entirely jokes." VI. Sources
The Dream Life of Balso Snell
Miss Lonelyhearts
A Cool Million
The Day of the Locust
Good Hunting
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/nwest.htm
http://www.phx.com
http://www.historicla.com
This essay was submitted by students of Grant Farley, a teacher at San Pedro High School, in San Pedro, California.