The Mailer Review/Volume 2, 2008/The Wise Blood of Norman Mailer: An Interpretation and Defense of Why Are We in Vietnam?: Difference between revisions

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Among the imperceptive and raucous commentaries on Mailer’s novels, this remark by Anatole Broyard stands out as refreshingly clear: “the rock he throws usually has a message tied to it” {{sfn|Broyard|1967|p=4}}.


In D.J.’s words, “He sings the song of the swine” {{sfn|Mailer|1959|p=34}}.


Many times D.J. interrupts his monologue to suggest that he is not really a “Texas Wasp,” but rather a “black-ass cripple Spade and sending from Harlem” {{sfn|Mailer|1967|p=224}}.
This quotation from Cannibals and Christians may help clarify Mailer’s position: “The
only explanation I can find for the war in Vietnam is that we are sinking into the swamps
of a plague and the massacre of strange people seems to relieve this plague. If one were to
take the patients in a hospital, give them guns and let them shoot on pedestrians down
from hospital windows you may be sure you would find a few miraculous cures” {{sfn}|Mailer|1966|p=91}}


==Works Cited==
==Works Cited==
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite news |last=Broyard |first=Anatole |date=Sep. 17, 1967 |title="A Disturbnce of the Peace" |url= |work=''New  York Times'' |location= |access-date=Sep. 07, 2020 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite news |last=Broyard |first=Anatole |date=1967 |title="A Disturbnce of the Peace" |url= |work=''New  York Times'' |location= |access-date= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1966 |title=''Cannibals and Christians'' |url= |location=New  York |publisher=Dial |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1966 |title=''Cannibals and Christians'' |url= |location=New  York |publisher=Dial |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1959 |title="The White Negro in ''Advertisements for Myself'' |url= |location=New York |publisher=Putnam |pages=357-358 |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1959 |title="The White Negro in ''Advertisements for Myself'' |url= |location=New York |publisher=Putnam |pages=357-358 |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1967 |title=''Why Are We in Vietnam |url= |location=New York |publisher=Putnam |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mailer |first=Norman |date=1967 |title=''Why Are We in Vietnam |url= |location=New York |publisher=Putnam |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
{{Refend}}

Revision as of 16:24, 7 September 2020

« The Mailer Review • Volume 2 Number 1 • 2008 • In Memorium: Norman Mailer: 1923–2007 »
Written by
Richard Lee Fulgham
Abstract: Why Are We in Vietnam? is a novel that calls for reassessment four decades after its appearance, particularly as a work of satiric allegory.
URL: https://prmlr.us/mr08fulg


Among the imperceptive and raucous commentaries on Mailer’s novels, this remark by Anatole Broyard stands out as refreshingly clear: “the rock he throws usually has a message tied to it” [1].

In D.J.’s words, “He sings the song of the swine” [2].

Many times D.J. interrupts his monologue to suggest that he is not really a “Texas Wasp,” but rather a “black-ass cripple Spade and sending from Harlem” [3]. 

This quotation from Cannibals and Christians may help clarify Mailer’s position: “The

only explanation I can find for the war in Vietnam is that we are sinking into the swamps of a plague and the massacre of strange people seems to relieve this plague. If one were to take the patients in a hospital, give them guns and let them shoot on pedestrians down from hospital windows you may be sure you would find a few miraculous cures” {{sfn}|Mailer|1966|p=91}}

Works Cited

  • Broyard, Anatole (1967). ""A Disturbnce of the Peace"". New York Times.
  • Mailer, Norman (1966). Cannibals and Christians. New York: Dial.
  • Mailer, Norman (1959). "The White Negro in Advertisements for Myself. New York: Putnam. pp. 357–358.
  • Mailer, Norman (1967). Why Are We in Vietnam. New York: Putnam.
  1. ↑ Broyard 1967, p. 4.
  2. ↑ Mailer 1959, p. 34.
  3. ↑ Mailer 1967, p. 224.
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