Abstract:
References to Hoover revealed time (the Great Depression). Details such as the favorite pastime of the main character’s father (cockfighting) betrayed the setting (a family farm in a small town). These details make the story, dedicated to Erskine Caldwell, seem unrelatable for modern, urban audiences. The conflict between the main character’s parents on how to assure that he (Wesley) becomes a decent adult, however, may be perceived as a timeless issue.