Literary Analysis of Baxter’s Procrustes by Keisha Robinson

In response to the literary reading of Charles W. Chesnutt’s, Baxter Procrustes, I really enjoyed the reading and I loved the writing style! This reading adventure was very fun, with an exception for minor difficulty understanding the usage of some punctuation, wording, and language. This story is well written and  clearly expressive of philosophical, logical, and illogical thoughts and ideas. Baxter’s Procrustes serves as a literary inspiration for authors, writers, publishers, and book collectors. This is an amazing story of failure, hope and success as best described with a shortcoming by omitting women. Solely due to the period of time in which this story was written is the only excusable reason that women were not allowed. That is no longer an issue or a concern today because of people like Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass and efforts put forward towards Women's Liberation and the Women's Rights Movement.

            Although I did find this a story of fate, Baxter with the opportunity to publish seemed a bit reluctant. I found it odd that he would feel so doubtful towards publishing his poetry. This is an intriguing tale of the readers circle with excitement through every page.The words are captivatingly and as a reader, I did not want the story to end. I felt as though I was part of The Bodleian Club, or somewhere secretly there. I found it fascinating that there was such an organization of this caliber in existance during that period; with smoking cigars and such an exquisite vivid portrait as those described to decoratively fashion, “a very handsome clubhouse, and much taste and discrimination have been exercised in its adornment.” I would like to agree that there was very much discrimination, as to not allow Women into the club.

            This particular quote was the exception to the rule, “This ceremony-face-

tiously known as “hitting the pipe”-being thus concluded, the membership pipes are carefully cleaned out and replaced in the club rack,” seemed a bit jumbled. Although I clearly understood the thought expressed, as a reader and a critique that appeared to be a misuse of punctuation. Another flaw in the wording and language is when Chesnutt describes, “The notion of publishing Baxter’s Procrustes did not emanate from Baxter,-I must do him the justice to say this.” The hypen i unnecessary. Another sentence unclear to the audience with a consistency in unnecessarily using the hyphen symbol is when Chesnutt writes, “He would occasionally read brief passages to a small coterie of friends in the sitting-room or library, -never more than ten lines at once, or to more than five people at a time, -and these excerpts gave at least a few of us a pretty fair idea of the motive of the poem.”

I honestly feel empowered, and I was fully engaged while reading. The ideas and views expressed provide delivered hope. The concept was rather entertaining. Chesnutt has a unique style incorporating humor when describing the English visitor that ripped the book open because of the extravagant cover, unknowingly ripping the pages. He says, ““ You see,” he exclaimed, holding up the volume, “you fellows said so much the bally book that I wanted to see what it was like; so I untied the ribbon, and cut the leaves with the paper knife lying there, and found-and found that there wasn’t a single line in it, don’t you know!””

The writing is a well written masterpiece. Charles W. Chesnutt is fascinating with his devastating depiction of what should be confined to the compounds to that of aristocrats. Chesnutt is stunning in his way of exploring words and providing a remarkable essence with the ability to capture quality.  Through an elaborate array of writing techniques, Chesnutt invites the reader inside the fellas discussion of books and cigars at The Bodleian Club. This story springs forward and takes you into The Bodleian Club, where membership is based on  genious intellect. In spite the use of certain punctuation, language, and wording, Baxter’s Procrustes is evidence that writers have a diverse target audience. It also serves as a testimony to writers that, “To a true collector, a book is a work of art,” and goes to further prove that there are all types of versatile writing styles.