In “The Me Decade and the Third Great Awakening,” Tom Wolfe examines the cultural transformation of the 1970s, focusing on individualism, materialism, and self-obsession. He employs literary devices—scene-by-scene construction, realistic dialogue, third-person narration, and status symbols—to bring these themes to life. Using substories such as Me and My Hemorrhoids, The Holy Roll, and Lemon Sessions, Wolfe provides vivid insights into the societal dynamics of the time while delivering sharp critiques with his characteristic wit.
Scene-by-Scene Construction
Wolfe’s scene-by-scene construction immerses readers in the social rituals of the Me Decade. In Me and My Hemorrhoids, Wolfe sets the scene with a detailed description of suburbanites attending encounter therapy sessions. Participants sit cross-legged in a circle, clutching pillows as they confront family members. The leader urges them to “let it all out,” creating an atmosphere of emotional intensity and vulnerability. Wolfe’s reconstruction of these sessions brings readers into the personal dramas that defined the self-help movement of the 1970s.
In The Holy Roll, Wolfe vividly portrays the rise of religious revivalism as a counterpoint to materialism. He describes evangelical gatherings where preachers command audiences with fiery sermons, and congregants erupt into speaking in tongues and ecstatic prayer. These scenes emphasize the emotional highs and sense of community that participants sought in their spiritual awakenings.
In How You Do It, My Boys!, Wolfe shifts to an industrial setting, capturing the mundane yet competitive interactions among blue-collar workers who boast about their side hustles and financial exploits. This scene underscores the Me Decade’s obsession with self-advancement and individual success, even within everyday routines.
Realistic Dialogue
Wolfe’s use of realistic dialogue adds authenticity and depth to his narrative. In Lemon Sessions, he captures the raw exchanges typical of encounter therapy. Participants challenge one another with lines like:
- “Why do you always play the victim?”
- “I’m not the victim—you made me this way!”
These heated interactions reflect the emotional relief that characterized these sessions, where families aired grievances in pursuit of personal breakthroughs.
In The Holy Roll, Wolfe includes snippets of exchanges between preachers and their congregations:
- Preacher: “Do you feel the Spirit moving in you?”
- Congregant: “Yes! Hallelujah!”
This dialogue conveys the passion and collective energy of the revivalist movement, emphasizing its appeal to those seeking spiritual renewal.
In How You Do It, My Boys!, Wolfe captures a more casual tone in conversations among workers:
- Worker 1: “You see what I got parked outside? A brand-new truck—leased it last week.”
- Worker 2: “Nice, but wait till you hear what I made flipping a few properties.”
These exchanges reveal the competitive spirit driving the pursuit of status and self-worth in everyday interactions.
Third-Person Point of View
Wolfe’s third-person narration allows him to critique the Me Decade’s behaviours with detachment and humour. In Young Faith, Aging Groupies, he describes the older attendees at rock concerts, observing how their attempts to recapture their youth clash with the raw energy of younger fans. Wolfe’s detached tone encourages readers to reflect on the era’s contradictions, such as the tension between ageing and the perpetual pursuit of self-expression.
In Only One Life, Wolfe examines the growing obsession with longevity and health. He writes about individuals engaging in extreme fitness routines and dietary regimens, describing their actions with fascination and subtle irony. By maintaining an observational stance, Wolfe critiques the lengths people went to in their pursuit of physical perfection while acknowledging the societal pressures that fueled these behaviours.
Status Symbols
Status symbols are central to Wolfe’s critique of the Me Decade, appearing prominently in several substories. In Me and My Hemorrhoids, Wolfe highlights how encounter therapy became a status symbol among suburbanites. Participating in such sessions signalled a commitment to self-improvement and emotional growth, aligning with the cultural obsession with personal betterment.
In The Holy Roll, Wolfe identifies religion as a form of status. For many, joining a revivalist church or embracing charismatic Christianity was not just a spiritual choice but also a way to project moral superiority and social belonging.
In How You Do It, My Boys!, material possessions such as cars, homes, and even side businesses became critical markers of success. Wolfe describes workers showing off their latest acquisitions or boasting about financial achievements, underscoring how status was measured by symbols of prosperity, even in blue-collar settings.
Themes and Writing Style
Wolfe’s themes of individualism, materialism, and self-obsession are woven through every substory, brought to life by his sharp and witty writing style. In Lemon Sessions, he humorously critiques the theatricality of encounter therapy, describing it as a “ritual purge of familial sins” where participants perform their grievances for an audience. His use of hyperbole emphasizes the absurdity of these practices while capturing their emotional intensity.
Wolfe’s vivid metaphors bring the revivalist movement to life in The Holy Roll. He likens the gatherings to “a spiritual circus, with salvation as the main attraction,” capturing the events’ intensity and performative nature. His humour and cultural insight make these critiques both entertaining and thought-provoking.
In Only One Life, Wolfe writes about the fitness craze with a mix of admiration and scepticism, describing individuals as “pilgrims on the altar of longevity.” This metaphor highlights the religious zeal with which people pursued health and wellness, tying the pursuit of physical perfection to the broader themes of self-obsession and societal transformation.
Conclusion
In “The Me Decade,” Tom Wolfe skillfully employs literary devices to vividly capture the cultural shifts of the 1970s, dissecting an era defined by individualism, materialism, and self-obsession. Through scene-by-scene construction, he immerses readers in specific settings—such as the emotionally charged encounter therapy sessions in Me and My Hemorrhoids or the fervent religious revivals in The Holy Roll—making abstract societal trends feel immediate and relatable. By incorporating realistic dialogue, Wolfe authentically reflects the language and attitudes of his subjects, whether it’s the purgative experiences of therapy participants or the casual competitiveness of blue-collar workers in How You Do It, My Boys!.
His third-person narration offers a detached yet insightful perspective, allowing him to critique his subjects with subtle irony while maintaining some semblance of empathy. This balance is evident in Young Faith, Aging Groupies, where he explores the awkward tension between ageing and the pursuit of youthful self-expression. Wolfe’s emphasis on status symbols, from fitness routines in Only One Life to home renovations in Lemon Sessions, underscores the era’s fixation on outward displays of success and self-worth, linking personal fulfilment to material and social achievements.
Wolfe’s ability to blend sharp observation with humour and cultural insight transforms his critique into an engaging narrative. His vivid portrayals and witty commentary reveal the complexities and contradictions of the Me Decade, encouraging readers to reflect on its broader implications. By capturing the essence of the 1970s with such clarity and depth, Wolfe ensures that his work remains impactful and relevant, offering timeless insights into the intersection of culture, identity, and societal change.