"Ham and Rye"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, in his fictional, yet highly autobiographical novel "Ham on Rye", Charles Bukowski allows the reader to experience the development of his cynically riveting ability to tell the truth. It looks at how Bukowski utilizes the protagonist and perpetual literary altar ego Henry Chinaski to demonstrate the development of a powerful literary tool - truth combined with cynicism - and how the development and application of truthful cynicism allows the author to challenge and attack the unspeakable cultural truths.

From the Paper:

"First, the reader learns the origins of Henry's truthful, yet cynical character development. Beginning with the first day of his fifth-grade class, young Henry learns the true nature of telling a lie. The teacher commands the students to describe their father's employment. However, the height of the Great Depression as rendered the students' fathers unemployed. In order to avoid shame, all of the students creatively invent occupations for their father's, except for the last student who actually tells the truth. Henry reacts to the truth by thinking, "I wish I had thought of that" (81). Young Henry realizes that by revealing the ugly truth of a situation, he will empower himself to establish a unique personal identity. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bukowski, Charles. Ham on Rye. New York: HarperCollins. 1982.

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