Importance of Love in A Feast of Snakes

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Importance of Love in A Feast of Snakes

A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews depicts a violent, cruel, selfish, profane, coarse, lustful society. Yet somehow, love survives. And love--despite the unbearable pain it inflicts--proves to be the only thing that really matters.
Sheriff Buddy Matlow repeatedly insists to Lottie Mae that he loves her. But his is a frightening, possessive kind of love that must remain secret. Because Lottie Mae is black and Buddy is white, he warns her, "'You know if you tell anybody I love you, I'll kill you'" (35). He rapes her by intimidating her with a snake, then callously says, "'Ain't it a God's wonder what a snake can do for love?'" (38). Buddy is so caught up in his feelings that he seems oblivious to how he is crushing her, and he is stunned when she rids herself of his love in the only way possible--by killing him.
Elfie's love for her husband, Joe Lon Mackey, is desperate and pathetic. He treats her abysmally. Her bad teeth and sagging breasts repulse him. He explod...

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