Beyond the Horizon

Books and poetry appear throughout the play as symbols of ideas and the power of imagination. As an ill child unable to leave the house, Rob is an avid reader who explores the world via the medium of the written word. The act of reading is a transportive experience for Rob, who is enthralled by “the mystery and spell of the East which lures [him] in the books [he’s] read” (129).

However, the influence of books and reading is not viewed as a positive influence by all the characters. Despite being charmed by Rob’s poetry and romantic descriptions at first, Ruth comes to believe that she was bewitched by Rob’s manipulation of language, which caused her to make the wrong decision and choose him over Andy. Mrs. Atkins shares this view and claims Ruth “was so spelled with Robert’s wild poetry notions she wouldn’t listen to sense” (154). Ruth also sees Rob’s reading as a poor use of his time when he has lots of practical work to be getting on with and tells him, “You think you’re so much better than other folks, with your college education, where you never learned a thing, and always reading your stupid books instead of working” (162). Ruth’s criticism of Rob also touches on how people’s ability to read and enjoy literature is seen as a social and intellectual marker. Ruth’s attack is based on her belief that Rob thinks his literary interests should earn him a more elevated position in society and that he sees himself as more intelligent than those who rely on farm labor. However, Ruth’s belief is never born out in Rob’s behavior and seems more founded on her own insecurities. When Rob questions Ruth about why his reading annoys her so much, she interrupts him and says he must think her “too stupid to understand” the books he reads (158).

Andy is contrasted to Rob in his approach to poetry; he doesn’t enjoy reading or writing, which further emphasizes how he would have made a better match for Ruth. Andy readily admits that he is not a poet like Rob and confesses, “I know I’m no author. You needn’t be afraid of hurting my feelings. I’d rather go through a typhoon again than write a letter” (165). Rob is frequently disappointed by Andy’s letters, partly because they are not very descriptive and therefore fail to conjure up a clear image in his imagination, and partly because the places they describe do not live up to how he envisaged them from reading about them in books. In Act II, Andy fondly tells Rob “Wake up, you old poetry book worm, you!” (167). Although spoken endearingly, Andy highlights that part of Rob’s problem is he spends too long daydreaming or with his head in a book, rather than dealing with problems going on in his real life. Andy patiently accepts this as part of Rob’s personality and appreciates his ability to craft language—but it irritates Ruth who sees reading as a waste of time.