Walker Percy
Walker Percy: A Literary Luminary
Full Name and Common Aliases
Walker Percy, often referred to simply as Walker Percy, was a distinguished American author and philosopher. He is sometimes affectionately called "Doc Percy" due to his medical background.
Birth and Death Dates
Walker Percy was born on May 28, 1916, and passed away on May 10, 1990.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Walker Percy was an American novelist and essayist. He was also a trained physician, although he is best known for his contributions to literature and philosophy.
Early Life and Background
Walker Percy was born in Birmingham, Alabama, into a family with deep Southern roots. His early life was marked by tragedy; his father committed suicide when Percy was just 13, and his mother died in a car accident two years later. These events profoundly influenced his worldview and later writings. Percy and his two brothers were taken in by their cousin, William Alexander Percy, a poet and lawyer in Greenville, Mississippi. Under his cousin's guidance, Percy was exposed to literature and the arts, which sparked his intellectual curiosity.
Percy attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in chemistry. He later pursued a medical degree at Columbia University in New York. However, his medical career was cut short when he contracted tuberculosis during his internship. This illness led him to a sanatorium, where he began to read extensively in philosophy and literature, setting the stage for his future career as a writer.
Major Accomplishments
Walker Percy's major accomplishments lie in his ability to weave existential philosophy into the fabric of Southern literature. He is best known for his debut novel, "The Moviegoer," which won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1962. This novel introduced readers to Percy's unique narrative style and his exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and the search for meaning in the modern world.
Percy continued to write novels and essays that delved into philosophical and theological questions. His works often reflect his conversion to Catholicism and his interest in existentialism, particularly the ideas of Søren Kierkegaard and Gabriel Marcel. Percy's ability to address complex philosophical ideas in an accessible and engaging manner earned him a devoted readership and critical acclaim.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to "The Moviegoer," Walker Percy authored several other notable novels, including "The Last Gentleman," "Love in the Ruins," and "The Thanatos Syndrome." Each of these works further explores the existential dilemmas faced by individuals in a rapidly changing world. Percy's essays, collected in volumes such as "The Message in the Bottle" and "Lost in the Cosmos," offer insightful commentary on language, semiotics, and the human condition.
Percy's writing is characterized by its wit, humor, and deep philosophical inquiry. He had a unique ability to blend the Southern Gothic tradition with existential thought, creating narratives that resonate with readers seeking to understand the complexities of modern life.
Impact and Legacy
Walker Percy's impact on American literature is profound. He is credited with revitalizing the Southern literary tradition by infusing it with existential themes and philosophical depth. His works have inspired countless readers and writers to explore the intersections of faith, identity, and meaning.
Percy's legacy extends beyond his novels and essays. He was a mentor to many young writers and thinkers, encouraging them to pursue their intellectual passions. His influence can be seen in the works of contemporary authors who grapple with similar themes of alienation and the search for purpose.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Walker Percy is widely quoted and remembered for his incisive observations on the human condition. His ability to articulate the existential struggles of modern life in a relatable and thought-provoking manner has made his works enduringly relevant. Percy's quotes often capture the essence of his philosophical inquiries, offering readers insights into the nature of existence, the role of language, and the quest for meaning.
His exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and the search for authenticity resonates with readers across generations. Percy's unique voice and perspective continue to inspire those who seek to understand the complexities of life in an ever-changing world. As a result, his words remain a source of wisdom and reflection for many.
Quotes by Walker Percy
Walker Percy's insights on:
Last summer I picked up a yellow scrap of newspaper and read of a Biloxi election in 1948, and in it I caught the smell of history more pungently than from the metal marker telling of the French and Spanish two hundred years ago and the Yankees one hundred years ago. 1948. What a faroff time.
At the end of an age, the denizens of the age still profess to believe that they can understand themselves by the theory of the age, yet they behave as if they did not believe it. The surest sign that an age is coming to an end is the paradoxical movement of the most sensitive souls of the age, the artists and writers first, then the youth, in a direction exactly opposite to the direction laid down by the theory of the age.
But if there’s nothing wrong with me, he thought, then there is something wrong with the world. And if there is nothing wrong with the world, then I have wasted my life and that is the worst mistake of all.
A man is after all himself and no other, and not merely an example of a class of similar selves. If such a man is deprived of the means of being a self in a world made over by science for his use and enjoyment, he is like a ghost at a feast. He becomes invisible. That is why people in the modern age took photographs by the million: to prove despite their deepest suspicions to the contrary that they were not invisible.
A sharp character – no youth as I feared – a Faubourg Marigny type, Mediterranean, big-nosed, lumpy-jawed, a single stitched-in wrinkle over his eyebrows from just above which there springs up a great pompadour of wiry bronze hair. His face aches with it. He has no use for me at all.
Dear Mr. Fontenot: Glancing over your portfolio, it struck me that you are not in the best position to take advantage of the dawning age of missiles...
A novel is what you call something that won’t sell if you call it poems or short stories.
Assume that you are quite right. You are depressed because you have every reason to be depressed. No member of the other two million species which inhabit the earth – and who are luckily exempt from depression – would fail to be depressed if it lived the life you lead. You live in a deranged age – more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.