An Analysis Of James Dickey's Deliverance '

Treasure Who You Are

Humans naturally are creatures of habit some worse than others. Ed Gentry from James Dickey’s novel Deliverance went through the same motions everyday which led to him being displeased with his life. Through his trip down the river he shifts from normalcy to a hard to describe state best described by: ruthlessness and emotionless. While it may seem Ed changes as a person during the journey the more drastic change lies at the end when he returns home.

Ed’s life for the most part seems to be nothing out of the ordinary. All of his decisions and action are well thought out and conservative. When it comes to his advertising agency, he knows society doesn’t demand greatness and as long as they provide adequate services their

This statement describes his predicament physically and emotionally. Emotionally is the key, Ed is transitioning into this sort of outlaw. First, he attempted to hunt out of season and now he is offering to buy illegally distilled alcohol. “If you’re making whiskey, we’ll buy some from you” (109). These two men rape Bobby and almost assault Ed, which obviously takes a toll on him. Yet, they were not “the straw that broke the camels back” this so called straw is Lewis when he takes the action of actually killing one of the men. Ed is always following Lewis’ lead, so when the injured guy was moving towards him he thought about finishing the job Lewis started; “I was ready to put it all behind me with one act, with one pull of a string” (117). Luckily there is not enough time for him to draw more blood, the man falls to his knees and dies. Although no action was taken by Ed, his thoughts alone are enough evidence to support his revelation into this ruthless man. Not only is he willing to do what it takes for his well being, but Ed is also willing to conceal what happens in the woods to the woods. He wants to tell Bobby that, “we could set all this aside; that it would be forgotten as soon as we left the woods, or as soon as we got back to the canoes” (119). I think this thought of Ed’s reveals more than it portrays. He describes how what he saw and heard, but never expresses any sympathy for Bobby.

Ed makes the decision to benefit the living without concern to the fallen, Drew, by drowning his body. As he lets go of Drew’s body he starts to grieve over the way he was leaving his friend to rest and Drew’s family. He describes them as now being “free and in hell” (220). Ed has had a fun ride of being this new person, but he begins to reach a breaking point physically and emotionally. “I was coming slowly up against an absolute limit, but I did not know where it was, or where we would be on the river when I got to it, or what I would do when I did” (221). They finally make it to civilization, Ed acts as this emotionless man one last time and concocts a story to tell everyone to save them from any questions that would hurt them. When they finally headed back home Ed says it was “easy and pleasant” (267). Which suggests that the change he underwent never ran very deep. The man he turned into in those woods was one simply trying to survive not a ruthless