Day of the Locust

                                                                 Day of the Locust

“The Day of the Locust” is a short novel by Nathanael West. Set during the great depression, it is a story about alienation and outcasts who join together to make their dream in Hollywood. Tod Hackett, the main character, is a painter from Yale but has recently moved to Hollywood in pursuits to painting set backgrounds. Tod falls in love with Faye Greener, an aspiring actress. Tod soon gets to meet some of her wacky friends such as: a Mexican who hosts cock fights, a guy who acts like a cowboy, a guy named Earl, a dwarf and Homer Simpson, a man she readily takes advantage of.

The story was essentially about people who meet under similar circumstances, bounding up together in desperation. I think that the way they clung to each other seemed a bit desperate because this story was set during the great depression. Because of this factor, being a struggling artist, actress, or any trade really of that time, they had to rely on each other for support. I think that Tod was also a very desperate person. Yet, he was more desperate for Faye, really. I think he took to what she wanted from him and followed whatever she said.

A common theme in this era, compared to “The Maltese Falcon” is really the voice of the writer. Although the characters aren’t one bit the same, some of the wording seems parallel. Throughout the book the characters really say what’s on their mind a lot, and smoke often.  I think that pulp fiction genre books are interesting in the way they end. They aren’t necessarily happy endings or complete, they are more abstract. The ending of “The Day of the Locust” was satisfactory for me. I thought it really random and messed up about the girl in the crowd with the creepy guy touching her. But I thought that the ending, with the riot in the streets was a strange way to end it. I would have liked to find out further about what happened with Faye.