'The Devil Is a Southpaw' is a story within a story — or so its narrator says

Aspiring for literary greatness, Milton embarks on a journey to create what he perceives as capital A art, revealing his flaws through his narrative voice and stylistic choices.

Milton Is a Manipulative and Flawed Narrator

Aiming to craft a high-brow literary work, Milton employs complex language and poetic descriptions. He desires to manipulate readers with long, convoluted sentences and difficult vocabulary. His preference for obscure language indicates a deliberate attempt to shape a weighty and serious piece of literature, though his means may alienate rather than enlighten his audience.

Unreliable Narrator With Literary Pretensions

Milton's unreliability as a narrator stems not only from his sanity being questionable but also from his literary posturing. His narrative is laced with intricacies that may serve more his vanity than the story he means to tell. His prose, filled with verbal flourishes, betrays his penchant for ostentation rather than genuine storytelling.

Milton Envies and Resents His Successful Rival Matthew Ochota

Milton and Matthew Jailed As Juveniles; Milton Envies Matthew's Art Skills

Milton's envy towards Matthew Ochota, his childhood rival, traces back to their time incarcerated as juveniles. He harbors a deep-seated jealousy of Matthew's inherent art skills, a talent that he has observed and c ...

The complex dynamic between juvenile inmates Milton and Matthew forms the narrative heart of a story that delves into the impact of their shared past and subsequent rivalry, especially within their artistic pursuits.

Rivalry and Friendship Between Juvenile Inmates Milton and Matthew Form the Narrative Core

Milton and Matthew's time spent as juvenile inmates breeds a relationship that is marred by trauma but also characterized by camaraderie.

Unclear Circumstances of Incarceration, Conflicting Accounts by Milton

While Milton initially claims their incarceration was a result of an attempted school shooting, he later contradicts himself with another story. The exact circumstances surrounding their incarceration remain blurred by Milton's conflicting accounts.

Juvenile Detention Trauma Shaped Their Relationship

The novel attempts to convey the lingering trauma resulting from Milton and Matthew's incarceration, a difficult period that has left indelible marks on both their relationship and individual psyches.

Rivals Milton and Matthew Share Artistic Drive in Writing

Both characters possess a strong artistic drive, but their similarities end there as differing levels of success begin to influence their dynamics.

Matthew's Artistic and Literary Success Surpasses Envious Milton

Matthew, described as a young, ...

Milton utilizes the stark and barren landscapes of Oklahoma to encapsulate the inner turmoil of his characters, drawing a parallel between the external environment and their emotional struggles.

Oklahoma’s Bleak, Desolate Setting Reflects Characters' Inner Struggles

Harsh Storms, Birds, and Barren Landscapes Create Isolation and Despair

In his artistic endeavour, Milton crafts a vivid and oftentimes daunting depiction of Oklahoma using exaggerated vocabulary and obscure language. He portrays elements that foster a sense of isolation and despair among the characters. The bleakness is further emphasized by Hobson’s observation, "Oklahoma is really a strange place... Parts of it can also be very flat and desolate. And part of the birds and the landscape is an important part I think of hopefully conveying that desolation and that emptiness and that struggle, especially at a juvenile detention center."

Contrast With the Idealized Nature in Literary Novels

This portrayal stands in stark contrast to the typical idealization of nature found in literary works. Rather, Milton opts for descriptions of harsh storms and screeching birds that augment the sense of desolation and underscore the characters' existential battles.

Oklahoma's Desolate Landscape Reflects Incarcerated Characters' Trauma

Detention Facility's Oppressive Setting Reinforced by Nature

The inhospitable natural setting serve ...

The presence of celebrity cameos and the concept of doppelgangers in literature establish an engaging blend of amusement and depth within storytelling, offering readers a diversified experience between levity and gravity.

Playful Elements Balance Serious Aspects In Novel

Novels often incorporate real-life celebrities into their narratives to add a touch of surreal whimsy and counterbalance the darker themes present within the story.

Characters Like Salvador Dali Add Surreal Whimsy To Story

Hobson notes the amusing and intriguing element of doppelgangers and doubling in literary works. By incorporating a character like Salvador Dali, who rambles on about the band Duran Duran, the author injects surreal whimsy into the narrative. This not only provides comic relief but also infuses the story with a surrealistic flavor, reminiscent of Dali's own artistic work.

Literary Devices Counter Darker Themes and Milton's "Serious Art."

These imaginative and playful literary devices act as a counterweight to "serious art" and darker themes within a narrative, echoing the dualism found in Milton’s work, which often juxtaposes the profound with the accessible.

Doppelgangers and Doubling Reflect the Author's Interest in Identity and Self

Authors utilize doppelgangers and doubling not just for entertainment but also as a tool for exploring deeper themes of identity and the self, thus enriching the complex ...

Hobson Views Writing Literary Fiction As Mystical and Intuitive

Writing As Meditation: Time Flies and Creative Doors Open

Hobsons regards the writing process, particularly fiction writing, as nearly supernatural. "There's something magical that happens when someone sits down to write, especially fiction, and pretty soon three hours have passed. It's a kind of mystical experience... Time just seems to fly. And doors open," Hobson explains, describing a transcendent experience where the passage of time seems altered.

Hobson Prioritizes Language, Structure, and Complex Questions Over Plot-Driven Narratives

Channeling his philosophy through his character Milton, Hobson leans into a writing style that prioritizes the intricacies of language and the architecture of a novel's structure. He aims to tackle complex and difficult questions, inviting readers to engage in the challenging terrain he believes defines serious art. For Hobson, these elements supersede the importance of a plot-driven narrative.

Revision and Rewriting Are Essential to Hobson's Process

Revision Is Key To Finding the Right Creative Solutions

According to Hobson, not every creative avenue explored in the first draft leads to success. "A lot of those doors that you enter aren't always the right doors, which is why revision is so important and rewriting. So other doors appear, and you explore those rooms," he says, suggesting that the iterative process of writing is es ...