Departure by Sherwood Anderson, 1919
The magic trick:
Showing the way parental wisdom still resonates even in a dramatic moment of independence
Like all good albums, concerts, or story collections, the peak comes with the penultimate song/story. “Sophistication” is the true actualization for George Willard.
The closing “Departure” simply ties up the loose ends. It’s a very nice story, on its own, regardless.
I tried to read it as I would a standalone story, and not as the connected conclusion to the Winesburg cycle. As such, it holds up quite well. I especially appreciated the detail of George heeding his father’s advice.
In what should be a triumphant – almost defiant – moment of independent manhood, George is still listening. His dad tells him to never let anyone think he a greenhorn. On the train, then, George looks around before counting his money, self-conscious to not look green. It’s a sweet touch.
And that’s quite a trick on Anderson’s part.
The selection:
George glanced up and down the car to be sure no one was looking, then took out his pocketbook and counted his money. His mind was occupied with a desire not to appear green. Almost the last words his father had said to him concerned the matter of his behavior when he got to the city. “Be a sharp one,” Tom Willard had said. “Keep your eyes on your money. Be awake. That’s the ticket. Don’t let anyone think you’re a greenhorn.”
After George counted his money he looked out of the window and was surprised to see that the train was still in Winesburg.
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