Style Analysis

Throughout the book so far, I have noticed that Oates often uses quotes from writers and theologists to express the thoughts of Joshua Seigl, or just reference things written that relate to a situation that he is in. A majority of these selected passages seem to be by authors whose work Seigl is well read on and is passionate about. Some quotes, however, are undocumented italicized references, which also seem to give a deeper meaning to Seigl's situations and thoughts. These passages always seemed to grab my attention, and reading them made me feel almost a closer connection to Joshua Seigl and his mysterious reclusive personality. I wanted to cite examples of these quotes and the explanations I came up for them.

Easy is the way down to the Underworld: by night and by day dark Hades' door stands open; but to retrace one's steps and to make a way out to the upper air, that's the task, that's the labor. -Virgil

So far in the novel I have seen this quote appear twice, both in the thoughts of Joshua Seigl. This quote seems to be of an inspiration to him. In the beginning, when he is dreading over his new and serious medical condition, Oates says that he smiles at the thought of this quote and it seems to brighten his mood. He goes from being depressed and stressed to a more productive and positive attitude, that it would be perfectly fine to hire himself an assistant. This quote is seen a second time in Chapter 7 when Seigl falls while running in the cemetery. He was calling for help but nobody could hear him, but when he thought of that quote by Virgil, he decided not to panic; he decided that if all else failed he could drag himself out of it. This quote seems to be a motavation for Seigl to be strong and overcome his conflicts thus far in the novel.

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

This quote is mentioned in the paragraph where Oates introduces Mount Carmel Hill and the cemetary, it is also the line after the quote I mentioned earlier in the Image Study. This quote is not cited, but it seems to be from a religious text. As I mentioned before, there seems to be some significance in the cemetery, as it is a place where Seigl willingly chooses to spend his time alone. The significance of this quote may be in pattern with Seigl's thoughts on the cemetery, it may bring him peace and maybe even be a place where he spends time thinking about religion.

From Tenedos, on the placid sea, twin snakes endlessly coiling, uncoiling, swam abreast to shore. - Virgil

I came across this second reference to Virgil in the novel referenced in the thoughts of Joshua Seigl on the day of the first visit by Alma, his new secretary. Now that he had an assistant sorting through all of the backed up letters and files he had accumulated over so many months, he decided he would spend more of his time reviewing and translating poetry, specifically mentioning Virgil's poetry. Seigl is clearly a devoted fan of Virgil, reading and analyzing much of his work, and also periodically quoting him. Seigl referenced this quote as an opinion of Virgils writing, "Even in the nightmare tale of the deaths of Laocoon and his hapless sons, what beauty of speech." I think that when he said this, Seigl was relating Virgil's life to his. Like Virgil, Seigl wants to be able to write and translate poetry, even in his times of conflict and despair.