The Day of the Locust - Nathanael West

Nathanael West writes The Day of the Locust in 1939 ​as a diagnosis of the psycho-cultural impact of Hollywood. West dramatises the story of Todd Hackett, Faye Greener and Homer Simpson. Hackett is an aspiring artist and a sold-out 'hack' who works for as a set designer and painter for a Hollywood studio. He interacts with Faye - who hopes to become an actress - in a deconstruction of how Hollywood, as a 'dream factory' denies the possibility of real relationships and love by turning love into an acted farce. Homer also pursues a twisted relationship with Faye as

the empty precursor to the Homer of Simpsons fame - he is an emptied image-locst who eats the dreams sold by Hollywood and consequently hollows himself out.

Resources for The Day of the Locust:

Extract from a Cambridge Finals Essay