America's Forced Patriotism in Pale Horse Pale Rider

Katherine Anne Porter is a writer who witnessed World War I and its effects in 1918. In her short novel called Pale Horse Pale Rider, which she wrote in 1939, we read about the impact of this war. Miranda, the main character, shows the effects of war to the reader in a very real way. The fact that the author witnesses World War I and describes it in her book gives us information from the exact time in history. By defining Liberty Bonds in particular, she tells the reader about a reality that forced people into a state of patriotism in the America of that time. Let's analyze this book from a Literary History Critical Approach with the quote I wrote above!

Here, our main character, Miranda, and her boyfriend, Adam, are watching a terrible show. While waiting for the third act, a man who is employed by the government suddenly appears and starts making speeches for people to buy Liberty Bonds. At that time, people were buying Liberty Bonds to support their country. But one of the people who did not buy Liberty Bonds was Miranda, who found the idea absurd, and also she did not have the money to spare for it. That is why it is such an annoying moment for Miranda that this guy suddenly appears in the middle of the theater and tries to sell these things. In this quote, we read Miranda's description of the man, not with admiration or a good feeling, but more like a nauseating description.

When we look at this event historically, promoting Liberty Bonds and forcing people to buy can be seen at any time or place of the day. This compulsion by the government creates a false sense of patriotism in people after a while. They buy it not to support their state on the battlefield, but because it felt like a habit. Maybe buying these Liberty Bonds and supporting the government made people feel less hopeless. Miranda does not think these Liberty Bonds will contribute to the war. At the beginning of the short novel, two men come to Miranda's office and say that she is the only one who has not bought Liberty Bonds. She thought it was ridiculous to pay 50 dollars for these posters because she did not have the money for them and also would the 50 dollars given by Miranda help America? Miranda's thoughts about Liberty Bonds show that this situation is forced on the citizens.