Gore Vidal, the American Empire, and the Cultural Vocabulary of the Post-Civil War South
Keywords:
Gore Vidal, American Empire, C. Vann Woodward, Post-Civil War South, National Myths, Vietnam WarAbstract
This article analyzes Gore Vidal’s critique of post-World War II America through the lens of C. Vann Woodward’s historical framework. The paper argues that Vidal’s critique of American imperialism and civil liberties violations is rooted in the cultural vocabulary of the post-Civil War South, as articulated by Woodward. This study examines Woodward’s concepts of 'the legend of American success' and 'the legend of American innocence,' which dominated post-World War II America but were challenged by Southerners’ unique historical experiences of defeat, poverty, and guilt. The article demonstrates how these national myths influenced American foreign policy, particularly during the Vietnam War, and explores why Southerners ultimately did not serve as a counterbalance to these myths as Woodward had hoped. Through an analysis of Vidal’s work and Woodward’s historical essays, this work investigates the enduring impact of these cultural narratives on American identity and foreign policy.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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