Dante’s “Inferno” epic has interesting parallels to Gilbert
King’s “Devil in the Grove.” After an analysis of the two texts, clear
parallels arise between them. However, it is far from an allegorical
relationship. Gilbert King uses allusions to Dante’s “Inferno” in his own book
in order to drive home a point.
The aforementioned, deliberate characterization of Thurgood
Marshall as an everyman sets the stage for him to be represented as Dante. Most
readers recognize Marshall as central figure in the civil rights movement and
as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. After Marshall is
characterized in the opening chapters through literary tactics involving
sympathy, humor, and admiration, the readers see Marshall as a relatable
individual on a quest to achieve the success they know him for; they see
Marshall as an everyman.
One connection between the two texts is in the title of
Gilbert King’s book: “Devil in the Grove.” As mentioned earlier in the “Title
Analysis” blog entree, the title “Devil in the Grove” may directly refer to
Sheriff Willis McCall, where sheriff is the “Devil” and “The Grove” or
Groveland is hell. In depicting Sheriff Willis McCall as the devil, Gilbert King
emphasizes that he sees the Sheriff as the focal point and origin of all evil
in Groveland. The sheriff represents the core of the South’s disillusionment
and corruption, and represents all that Thurgood Marshall is trying to fight.
Synthesizing these two elements Gilbert King makes a clear
connection to “Inferno”. Marshall, as seen through the lens of “Dante”, seeks
to achieve “salvation”, which is winning trials, advancing the position of
African Americans, and saving the life of Walter Irwin. But in order to reach
this, Marshall must first travel deep into the South or “Hell” via segregated
train cars. Through his journey into the underworld he encounters many dangers
in the form of threats against him. Eventually he confronts the “Devil” or
Sheriff Willis McCall in the “inner circle of hell” or Groveland. In order to
achieve the “salvation” of saving Walter Irwin’s life he must put himself
directly in harms way and outwit the “Devil”.
Gilbert King uses allusions to Dante’s “Inferno” in order characterize
Marshall, and emphasize the horrible injustice of the South. Dante’s Journey
through Hell in order to reach salvation is a perfect metaphor for what
“Marshall” had to do in his early career: travel into the most unjust and
dangerous places in the South in order to serve justice and promote equality
for African Americans.
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