Local color is literature that records one way of living at a specific time. Jewett is meticulous in describing Oldfields, Massachusetts. The book’s name, “A Country Doctor”, gives it a unique rural flavor. Oldfields can be found in a quiet, uninhabited wilderness where only a few inhabitants live. It is the place where characters are limited in their movements. Dunport, another rural setting, is described by Jewett as Nan visiting Anne Prince. The influence of pastoral literature is evident due to its natural setting in the country. Sentimentality and romanticism are key.
Local color fiction’s purpose is to preserve and recapture the past through literature. The detail of the setting creates a sense of nostalgia and romanticizes the past. “It is good to keep in mind the white rose road…and …,. It makes me wonder if people will feel a sense of loss; a new and excited awareness of rural life.” (Jewett 2005). The characters enjoy the nostalgia of past times that cannot be recreated. “A lot of local-color writing objects to the intention of protecting regional interest…it achieves it by sentimentalizing and idealizing a life style” (Dike 1952). It contains a large amount of information about past customs, habits, and habits. The Martins and Jakes sit around the fireside, recalling their lives. Local color fiction is a way to preserve tradition and evoke fond memories. Local color fiction characters are resilient to change. They are able to relate to one another based upon past events and relationships. While some are committed to breaking the chains of history, others are determined to keep it that way. The tradition of certain stock characters is what makes them special. Local color literature exemplifies the “militant inflexibility” of its characters, as well as their singular-minded and conditioned commitment to values (Dike 1962). Iconoclastic Adeline rebels in her family’s favor and flees her hometown/. Anna Prince, however, remains steadfast to her Southern traditions and her customs. Mrs. Graham is one of the characters representing the old dying time. Dr. Ferris is another. Nan Prince, George Gerry and Dr. Ferris are the characters who represent the old dying age. Nan is being trained by Dr. Ferris, who was raised in country life.
In keeping with pastoral concerns, the reader notices the theme of Country versus City. In the novel, urban space is described as demeaning. Rural residents find it difficult to live in cities and may even die trying. In her youth, Adeline, Nan’s mother, sought pleasure in the country, but returned sick and dying to the country. (Jewett 2005). Her notorious adventures in country environments have worn her down and defamed the woman before her countrymen. Nan cannot thrive in the country and her energy levels begin to decline. She also suffers from a lack of continuity in her city life. The city’s modern medicine was resented by the country people. Dr. Ferris says that it was “astonishing” how much city doctors knew about modern medicine (Jewett 2005). Oldfields residents used to travel to New York and Boston, but they were deceived by urban life and decided to settle down in the country.
Jewett, 2005. “The repetitions and most important stories are signals events.” Mrs. Meeker, a country gossip, is a key character. She always looks into the events of small towns to find out what is happening within the families. Her captivating stories make her a welcome visitor to any place she visits. The story lacks a climax nor an aggressive conflict, so one concludes that the novel is light in plot. Two messages are important when analyzing local colour fiction. Language is key. We can see evidence of the authenticity of the period and of the inhabitants of the area from the colloquial Southern dialect spoken at the beginning. The communication medium is like a fingerprint. It gives the time an identity. Language evolves and loses meaning that it is essential to capture the dialect. Country folk talk among themselves in their own customary language.
Works cited:
Blanchard, Paula. Sarah Orne Jewett’s World and Work. Reading, Mass. : Addison- Wesley, 1994.
Dike, Donald. Notes on local color and its relationship to reality. College English, Vol. 14. No. 2 (November 1952), pp. 81-88
Jewett, Sarah Orne. A Country doctor. 2005. Rhode, Robert D. Scenery. College English Vol. 13, No. 3 (December 1951) pp. 142-146.
Westbrook. Perry D. Acres. Flint. Sarah Orne Jewett. Rev. ed. Metuchen, New Jersey, was the location of The Scarecrow Press publication in 1981.
