Home

The concept of home is so integral to the human condition that countless authors have explored this theme in their work. William Kennedy chooses to explore the theme by writing about the homeless. It is an interesting and unusual juxtaposition of themes, which adds great value to the vast literary body of work about the importance of Home. What is most interesting is his decision to show Francis Phelan and Helen Archer as human beings capable of deciding the direction of their lives. The public debate over homelessness usually involves discussing whether vagrants are homeless due to their own choices, or through circumstances beyond their control. Kennedy comes squarely down on the side of personal responsibility, and yet, surprisingly given his stance on the matter, he creates characters who are whole and complex beings with whom the readership can sympathize. Kennedy seems to believe that homelessness is a...