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percy-l - [percy-l] The Last Gentleman Discussion / Chapter 4.6 - Chapter 4.15 (Response to Responses)

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Subject: Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

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  • From: Leonard <leonardh6363 AT gmail.com>
  • To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [percy-l] The Last Gentleman Discussion / Chapter 4.6 - Chapter 4.15 (Response to Responses)
  • Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:41:41 -0400


 

This post (if it’s okay) is my reaction to comments about this week's reading of Chapter 4.6 - Chapter 4.15. 

 

First, I have to thank you all for your provocative responses to this part of the book and to some of my thoughts.

 

I was fascinated to consider what Chuck said about the significance of Will’s finding the notebook and the map—one being philosophical; the other, practical—concluding that “higher thought” must be grounded in “practical reality.” You put into words what first attracted me to Percy’s writing…his abundance of accessible images: brand names, celebrity references, TV shows, actual movie titles, etc. Then, discovering his linking the familiar to Kierkegaard was mind-bending.

 

I love the way Janet relates to Percy’s sense of humor, something so many scholarly analyses miss. I wish I’d said more about it. I’ve always laughed at Will’s troubles (his inability to “speak to the cat”), but I got lost as I read further this go ‘round, until you reminded me how funny it is that Sutter ignores Will’s pleas for help.

 

Something you said also reminded me that I neglected to bring up the racial references in the book. I passed on it to avoid being “political,” but it’s relevant to talk about Percy as a Southern writer, and he often emphasized race as a necessary theme of Southern writing. Sadly, I can imagine his very use of the N-word may someday disqualify him as a subject for literature classes. Where does Percy stand? He certainly doesn’t fit in with the Thigpen crowd. I think his sympathy lies closest to Val, whose comments about “noblesse oblige” mirror Percy's own portrayal of his “Uncle” Will in his introduction to “Lanterns on the Levee.”

 

The other feature of Percy’s “southerness” is his remarkable descriptions of the region. In fact, I believe appreciation for his literary art has too often taken a back seat to his brilliant philosophical thought.

 

That brings up the interesting essay Wade Riddick posted about the relevance of Will’s “search.” I personally find Percy vitally relevant to my own life. But I have a flip-phone, I don’t stream anything (except for Saints games on WWL New Orleans), and I’m not sure I could hold a conversation with a Gen-Z’er for more than a few minutes. I do have a Facebook account, thank you Mr. Zuckerberg, but I only check it two or three times a year. I think Percy is unquestionably  applicable to the workings of the human mind and its relation to “practical reality,” even if the world of 2025 may be paying less attention to it.

 

Can’t wait for the next chapter.

 

Thanks again,

Leonard   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



  • [percy-l] The Last Gentleman Discussion / Chapter 4.6 - Chapter 4.15 (Response to Responses), Leonard, 07/10/2025

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