![\"Charles](\"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/postcolonialstudies\/files\/2014\/06\/220px-True_Grit_Poster-1.jpeg\")
<\/a>Charles Portis was born on December 28, 1933 in El Dorado, Arkansas. His father, Samuel, was a public school superintendent, while his mother, Alice Waddell, was an adamant supporter of the literary arts. Portis joined the Marine Corps following his graduation from school, serving from 1952 to 1955. During this time he rose to the rank of sergeant, and following his discharge he received a degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas. He worked as a reporter for several publications, including the\u00a0Commercial Appeal<\/em>\u00a0in Memphis, the\u00a0Herald Tribune<\/em>\u00a0in New York, and the\u00a0Arkansas Gazette<\/em>\u00a0in Little Rock.\u00a0His position at the\u00a0Herald Tribune<\/em>\u00a0enabled him to interact with journalists such as Dick Schaap, Jimmy Breslin, and Tom Wolfe. The paper promoted him to the position of London correspondent, but he returned to Arkansas shortly thereafter to pursue a career in fictional literature (Idol 361; Colby 697; Magill 1665).<\/p>\n Charles Portis has been described as \u201cone of the most inventively comic writers of western fiction. With an unerring ear for the rhythms of speech and idiosyncrasies of language<\/a>, he delivers deadpan humor as his characters strive to come to terms with their own limitations and an increasingly cockeyed world\u201d (Cleary 610). He utilizes the effectiveness of humor to define various components of the American character and its spirit. Most often, the characters in his novels novels are Arkies (or residents of Arkansas), and he \u201ctakes the cliche of the Arkansas Traveler and stands it on its head\u201d by giving them a broad range of adventures in \u201ca bewildering, and sometimes dangerous, world\u201d (Magill 1667). His novels depict a \u201cclash between the temperaments and values of the old and new South and between traditional Southern traits such as independence and gentility and the untamed, willful quality of the Southwest\u201d (Connaughton 264).<\/p>\n The primary theme of Portis\u2019 novels is that of conflict between his characters\u2019 desire for travel and adventure and their attraction to the comforts of home and daily routine (Idol 361). A restless disposition is linked to this impasse. Portis \u201cshows that restlessness has its moments of both high humor and profound sadness. He presents this restlessness as a trait of Americans, as well as a universal fact of man\u2019s existence\u201d (Idol 362). Revenge is another motif interwoven throughout his narratives. Portis frequently illustrates the notion of the victim as being treated unfairly by the abuser and that a great injustice has been performed. This is linked to the theme of justice that is present in every aspect of his writing\u201d (Idol 363).\u00a0 Connaughton argues that Portis \u201cis not so much a writer of vision as of observation\u201d and that he is able to select \u201cappropriate actions and descriptive details and constructs sustained, idiomatic voices for his characters, all of whom exhibit a basically good-natured, if slightly askew, view of the world\u201d(267).<\/p>\n Charles Portis has a gift for representing American\u00a0dialects<\/a>, particular Southern ones. His use of dialect allows the novel to explore \u201chow some Americans practice deceit and hypocrisy and try to conceal their inhumanity to man\u201d because they present \u201cslick, hustling, fast-talking characters capable of everything from spreading soulbutter to cranking out position papers for aspiring politicians [who] prey on the innocence, trust, and piety of Portis\u2019 good-hearted people\u201d (Idol 364).<\/p>\nStyle<\/h3>\n
Themes<\/h3>\n
The Master of American Dialects<\/h3>\n
Works By Portis<\/h3>\n