Outer Dark (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Cormac McCarthy
- First Published: 1968
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Surrealism
- Time of Work: Not specified, probably the early twentieth century
- Setting: Indeterminate, but probably southern Appalachia
- Genres: Long fiction, Surrealist literature, Parable
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Mothers, Parents and children, Murder or homicide, Twentieth century, Sin or Original sin, Rural or country life, Incest, Fathers, Folklore, Fratricide, parricide, or filicide, Childbirth, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Sacrifice, Appalachia, Cannibalism
- Locales: United States
Characters Discussed
Rinthy Holme, a young, uneducated countrywoman about nineteen years old. Her brother Culla has (probably) raped her, though she seems to bear him no great ill will for that. When her pregnancy becomes obvious, Culla moves them to a remote cabin in the backwoods and refuses to allow anyone to come near for fear that his deed will be discovered. After a long, painful labor with no midwife (and very little help or sympathy from Culla), Rinthy gives birth to a male child. While she sleeps after the birth, Culla takes the child and leaves it alone in the woods,...
[The entire page is 1049 words long]
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