Blogs
American Satire
Van Gogh's "Portrait of a One-Eyed Man"Nathanael West’s A Cool Million is described by Harold Bloom as “a permanent work of American satire” (Walden, 1994). While it is very clear in reading the novel that West is playing with many aspects of American life and thought, he reverses his own position so many times it almost becomes difficult to find what exactly he is satirizing. At one point Shagpoke Whipple strikes out against both Capitalism and Communism in the same breath, saying, “These two archenemies of the American Spirit, the spirit of fair play and open competition, are Wall Street and the Communists” (West, 1934). In almost everything we have read thus far the author is in favor of either capitalism continuing or a communist overthrow. This moment might be the first example of an author truly throwing the popular ideas of the day to the wind.
Whipple advocates for a new dictatorship in America with himself at the helm and supported by white, non-Jewish, Protestant men. As Walden notes, “That his [Whipple’s] minions resemble those of Mussolini or Hitler is no coincidence” (Walden, 1994). And as we see at the end of the book Whipple does indeed achieve this vision. But at what expense? In order for Whipple to realize his new dream Lem Pitkin has his teeth removed, loses an eye, a leg, his scalp, and is ultimately shot in cold blood. Pitkin must first become a martyr for Whipple’s cause in order for it to finally succeed. All along the mythic narrator describes Pitkin as willingly going along with everything Whipple tells him in a naïve and adoring way. Whipple is the one who first sends him out in the world, and Whipple is the one who causes his demise. As Walden writes, “The Horatio Alger myth is more likely to destroy the individual than reward him” (Walden, 1994). This observation is clearly true in the sad case of Lem Pitkin.
Is West satirizing ever myth of American culture that ever took hold in society? It appears indeed that he might. He holds no prisoners and criticizes every aspect of America.
Suggestions from West?
I agree that West seems to criticize every part of America, but he does not really give us a clear picture of what he would recommend to fix the situation. He is definitely not a fan of capitalism, which screws over Lem Pitkin completely and does not seem to be working, given how poor everyone is. But he does not really seem to advocate communism either. He mocks racism, by making racist comments. And he calls a man who was the president of the United States a Fascist.
I respect his talent for satire and the fact that, like South Park, he directs criticism at everyone. But, I still don't really know what his purpose is in writing this story and what he hoped to convince people of, besides the fact that America is not the land of the free or the home of the brave that it purports itself to be.