Author: Audrey S. Eyler

Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 9780838635155

Eyler shows how West describes the evolution of the human soul - with its antipodal capacities for destruction and creation - and charts its stages of development. Maturation of the soul is integrated with that of the body, and together they paradigmatically suggest for West the development of the culture and of the human race. Materialism, no intrinsically destructive thing to West, nevertheless dominates and impedes modern thought and action, feeds the insatiable Ego, promotes violence, and threatens true, healthy Egoity, essential human community, and even the planet. Eyler traces West's sources to demonstrate the syncretism and integrity of his approach. The four novels West published during his lifetime (The Native Moment, Rebel to Judgment, The Ferret Fancier, and As Towns With Fire) appeared independently of each other and stand firmly as separate works.