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Oxymorons
Definition of Paradox
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition
Chapter 10
Explanation and Analysis—All Truth, No Truth:
Chapter 10 opens with Hazel standing on the nose of his car preaching about the nature of truth. Through a rather paradoxical argument, he opposes the Christian notion of one singular truth. In the sermon, it becomes clear to the reader that some of his anti-religious fundamentalism is a product of his loneliness and sense of unbelonging. Although he addresses the crowd, he seems to be talking to himself:
"I preach there are all kinds of truth, your truth and somebody else’s, but behind all of them, there’s only one truth and that is that there’s no truth,” he called. “No truth behind all truths is what I and this church preach! Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going to never was there, and where you are is no good unless you can get away from it. Where is there a place for you to be? No place."
In one single sentence, Hazel says that he preaches that there are many truths, one truth, and no truth. On first glance, he seems to be contradicting himself. However, his main aim is to dispute the Christian idea of a singular truth, as he finds this oppressive and unrealistic. When he says that there's all kinds of truth, he's trying to open up the pluralistic possibility of people believing what they want to believe. When he says that there's no truth, he's emphasizing that there's no inherent, overarching truth that can unite all of these separate world views. In certain ways, the paradox of "no truth behind all truths" comes off as quite progressive.
The second half of the passage is touching to a reader who knows about Hazel's background. In these sentences, he mostly seems to be talking to himself. His claim "where you come from is gone" can be read in relation to his experience of returning to Eastrod after the army and finding the town deserted and his homestead abandoned. Hazel's plan had to return home, but he found that there was no home to return to. This leaves Hazel profoundly disillusioned, both over his past and over his future: "where you thought you were going to never was there." His claim "where you are is no good unless you can get away from it" sheds light on why his car is so important to him, and why he loses the will to live when he loses his car.
Of course, the people in the street don't know anything about the strange man preaching in front of him, and they're therefore unlikely to realize that his sermon is a sort of lonely cry for help. For the reader, however, the sermon serves as a reminder of Hazel's isolation and utter lack of belonging. In most of the novel, he's not a likable character and inspires minimal compassion. This is a moment in which the reader becomes more aware of and moved by his predicament. As Hazel tells his listener—and by extension himself—that there's no place for them, he gives insight into his alienation and longing for home.
Related Themes:
