The Moviegoer - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Moviegoer, a novel by Walker Percy, is a philosophical exploration of existential malaise and the search for authenticity in postwar America, shrouded in the guise of a deceptively simple narrative about a New Orleans stockbroker. Is it merely a story of a man adrift, or a profound meditation on the human condition?
Published in 1961, The Moviegoer emerged during a period of unprecedented American prosperity coupled with growing anxieties about conformity and the Cold War. Its genesis can be traced to Percy's own intellectual and spiritual struggles, documented in his essays and personal correspondence from the 1950s, a time when existentialism permeated intellectual circles. These writings reveal Percy's grappling with concepts of alienation and the "everydayness" that threatened to suffocate the soul – themes deeply embedded in his debut novel. The novel arrived on the literary scene as a challenge to conventional understandings of success and happiness.
Initially misinterpreted by some as a straightforward critique of Southern society, The Moviegoer gradually gained recognition as a pivotal work of existential literature. The character of Binx Bolling, with his "malaise," resonated with readers grappling with their own sense of displacement. Influential critics like Alfred Kazin championed the book's profound insights into the modern search for meaning. What few know is that Percy originally conceived of Binx as a much darker character and the ending considerably more ambiguous. This transition from darkness to a ray of hope hints at the spiritual undercurrent that pulses throughout the novel, inviting generations to question their own values and aspirations.
The legacy of The Moviegoer endures not only through its enduring popularity in academic circles, where it continues to be studied for its philosophical depth, but also in its indirect cultural influence on subsequent works of art that explore themes of alienation and the search for purpose. Its enduring impact can be seen in countless books, films, and social commentaries that grapple with the same existential questions. What is the true nature of the "search," and does Binx ever truly find what he is looking for?