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Heroic orientation in the Scooter tetralogy
Albert Murray (b. 1916) is well respected as a socio-literary critic among the African American literati, though not widely known beyond. He has written extensively on the "Hero's" role in civilization, including the Hero's role in African American culture. In regard to Black culture, Murray has attempted to show an innate link between Heroism and improvisation in the Blues and Jazz. Less well known as a writer of fiction, Murray's tetralogy, consisting of Train Whistle Guitar (1974), The Spyglass Tree (1991), The Seven League Boots (1995), and The Magic Keys (2005), is a roman à clef that describes the maturation of a writer as Hero. Much insight into the tetralogy can be gained by applying Murray's own theoretical observations on the nature of the Hero. But these observations can be augmented by the formulations of other theorists of the Hero, including Carl Gustav Jung and Northrop Frye. Although each theorist approaches the problem of the Hero from a different vantage point, each sees the Heroic project as crucial to both individual and social well-being. In particular, Murray approaches the question of Hero from the standpoint of African American culture in the 1920s and 1930s; however, ultimately, he reaches beyond to address the timeless necessity of the Hero. Above all, each of these three theorists enables the Heroic gesture in the Scooter tetralogy to be viewed as a representation of the eternal human drama.
- "Albert Murray (b. 1916) is well respected as a socio-literary critic among the African American literati, though not widely known beyond. He has written extensively on the "Hero's" role in civilization, including the Hero's role in African American culture. In regard to Black culture, Murray has attempted to show an innate link between Heroism and improvisation in the Blues and Jazz. Less well known as a writer of fiction, Murray's tetralogy, consisting of Train Whistle Guitar (1974), The Spyglass Tree (1991), The Seven League Boots (1995), and The Magic Keys (2005), is a roman à clef that describes the maturation of a writer as Hero. Much insight into the tetralogy can be gained by applying Murray's own theoretical observations on the nature of the Hero. But these observations can be augmented by the formulations of other theorists of the Hero, including Carl Gustav Jung and Northrop Frye. Although each theorist approaches the problem of the Hero from a different vantage point, each sees the Heroic project as crucial to both individual and social well-being. In particular, Murray approaches the question of Hero from the standpoint of African American culture in the 1920s and 1930s; however, ultimately, he reaches beyond to address the timeless necessity of the Hero. Above all, each of these three theorists enables the Heroic gesture in the Scooter tetralogy to be viewed as a representation of the eternal human drama."@en
- "Heroic orientation in the Scooter tetralogy"@en