2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

Donald Ray Pollock is also an American writer, who grew up in the small town of Knockemstiff – an obscured area in Ross County, Ohio. His anthology, Knockemstiff , crawls into the core of a gritty mid-western American village to unveil the dark, tough but bold-spirited lives of its residents. There are 18 short stories, featuring a cast of reoccurring characters, who traverse across the spectrum of the freakish yet stern qualities of basic human conduct. Knockemstiff explores the depths of corrupt dispassion, through unspeakably vicious crimes and sexual situations. The incorporation of ‘Grotesque’ is highlighted through Pollock’s unapologetic choice of characters, giving insight into the extreme backward thinking of individuals. Section I --- The exploration of the unavoidable sin of human nature Both Child of God and Knockemstiff allow a confronting mood to be established throughout its settings and plotlines. From committing incest to storing dead bodies for pleasure, none of the writers are afraid to create a sense of shock that may leave readers unsettled. In Child of God , the narrator introduces the main character Lester Ballard as “a child of God much like yourself perhaps” 1 . Despite the disturbing violence that follows throughout the book, McCarthy makes it clear that Ballard is no less human than anyone else. He too possesses the same human attributes and desires that led to his downfall. By addressing the readers directly with the quote, McCarthy introduces ‘Grotesque’ as a paradigm that isn’t far off an average human being. He reminds readers that anyone and everyone can be exposed to horror the same way Ballard has and that his actions are only human, just like “yourself” 2 .

1 (McCarthy, 1973) Child of God pg. 1 2 (McCarthy, 1973) Child of God pg. 1

5