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On September 2nd, I began a book that left with
me a lot to think about. I had heard good things about American Gods, and it had been on my queue for a while. I had
brought it with me in anticipation of the free time I would have during my long
weekend. Out on the quiet lake, with the sun beating down on me, I flipped to
the first page and began an 18-hour journey.
Initially, I was a little put-off by the story.
The protagonist’s name, Shadow, seemed a little too corny for me. It felt like
the author was trying too hard. Nonetheless, I persisted because I trusted
those who had recommended this novel.
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| Easton Depp - Class of 2019 |
Soon I was drawn in by the conflict depicted in
the book. The conflict of these “old gods” of immigrants that depicted the
culture and character of a people pitted against the “new gods” of technology
posed an interesting juxtaposition that, while trite, left me thinking. Are we
sacrificing our culture and community values in worship of these new “gods” of
internet?
Before I dive into the thematic elements of American Gods, I want to give you a
spoiler warning. This will spoil the ending of the book. If you haven’t read
it, I recommend you do. There is a reason I read this entire book in the span
of a day.
So, back to the conflict of religiosity and
culture against technology and media. This whole argument is interesting, but it
is also one that American Gods
decides doesn’t matter. Ultimately, the two sides engage in a massive battle
that Shadow resolves with the point that both sides, old gods and new, will
eventually fade. Both are temporary existences that will succumb to the actual God. Ultimately, America isn’t a land that caters to worship of anything
besides worship of the land itself.
After taking some time to think on this, I think
I agree with the author, Neil Gaiman. America is a land founded on principles
that have become enshrined over its life. Patriotism has ingrained itself into
the United States much more so than any one culture. The melting pot of the
United States binds itself together through shared principles and pride. Any type of “god” that attempts to reign
supreme in the United States will find itself fractured among the diverse
community that resides here. Thus, the worship of the people is directed
towards the land and state itself.
An interesting aside: many pagan gods, folk
heroes, and technologies are depicted in the story but interestingly, Christianity
never makes an appearance. It is only in an addendum of sorts that a character
is alluded to be a depiction of Christianity. However, that small chapter
itself is worthy of its own blog. Maybe another day.
Easton Depp, of Ft. Thomas, Ky., is a sophomore McConnell Scholar studying political science and economics.