The Great Santini | Techniques

The Great Santini Techniques

Conroy employs no unusual technique in this novel. Interesting to observe for those who enjoy his later works is the unfolding of his poetic approach to story telling. His use of dense imagery, for which he now remains famous, begins to emerge in The Great Santini. Already noted is Conroy's employment of parallels between the Marine code, Lillian Meecham's Southern code, Ben Meecham's athletic brotherhood and the precepts and rituals of the Catholic church. Conroy remains a genius at constructing such parallels and using the idea of rituals and procedures as a common thread weaving in and out of his story. The members of the abused family also retain a code of specific actions and of silence. They dance a taut choreography around the explosive Bull, following his signals as worshipers might look to the priest for guidance through mass. Events within the life of the protagonist build in layers,...
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