AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL

The Great Santini - Pat Conroy

(Novel)

Synopsis:

The Great Santini tells the story of hard-nosed Marine fighter pilot Lt. Col. Wilbur "Bull" Meecham, who calls himself "The Great Santini," and the family he runs with a strict hand. It follows the Meecham family as they move to and struggle to fit into the Marine town of Ravenel, South Carolina. The book is set in 1962 before the Vietnam War. Conroy makes the point that Santini is a warrior without a war, and in turn is at war alternately with the service that he loves and his family.

The novel explores main character Ben Meecham's growth into manhood, his experiences playing basketball for his high school, as well as his friendships with a Jewish classmate and an African-American farmer. The novel exposes the love-hate relationship between Ben and his father, and the lengths Ben goes to in an effort to win his father's acceptance and love.

The novel is based on Conroy's own childhood experiences growing up in a military family. Conroy's own father, Donald Conroy, was the inspiration for "Bull" Meecham.

Analysis:

The story is about a Marine pilot who, both love his family and also love to give off service to his country. He had done everything in order to be near to his military camp even though his family is having a hard time. The author, Conroy, explains that he had also felt the emotions of the characters in the novel because he had experienced this during his childhood days. The Great Santini really fits into the Autobiographical Theory because the story of this novel is based on the life of its author - Pat Conroy. He said that he had also experienced all the hardships and adversities same as the role of the characters in the story. Conroy's role in reality here is Ben Meecham - son  of Wilbur. And Wilbur is he's father  

The Autobiographical Theory is a criticism which analyzes a writer's biography to show the relationship between the author's life and their works of literature. This kind of critic can focus on a writer's works not only to enhance understanding of them individually but also to enrich a readers' understanding of the artist.