So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell is an American novella telling the story of a murder and its effect on a small tight knit community. The novel follows two families, the Ivys and the Brants, as they grapple with the tragedy that the murder has left in its wake. It is primarily told through the perspectives of two people, a young boy named Cletus Smith and an elderly farm hand, Art Laird. Through their perspectives, Maxwell provides an in-depth look at how tragedy affects families and community bonds.
The novel opens in the small, rural town of Onabasha, Illinois. Cletus Smith, a twelve-year-old boy growing up in Onabasha, comes from a large, but not well off, family. He lives with his parents, six siblings, and an aunt who helps raise them.
The novel begins when the father of Lester and Lawrence Brant is shot and killed by their mother in a fit of rage. Cletus' response is shock and sadness. He becomes very fond of the two Brant boys, who live alone without their mother, and he offers to help take care of them.
The two families, the Ivys and the Brants, had always been close and never really separated themselves. They all come together in solidarity after the tragedy, but in doing so are forced to confront the sadness and grief that comes with mourning.
This leads to Cletus and Art developing a closer relationship, where Art serves as a mentor to Cletus as he comes of age. The two become increasingly close over the course of the novel and end up gradually solidifying their bond.
The novel takes a look at how tragedy can tear apart a community, and how it can bring people closer together. It looks at how the two families eventually come to terms with the loss of the Brant's father, and how fate can sometimes determine the roads we take. The tragedy brings the two families closer in the end, with Cletus developing a new appreciation for the Brants and even a new but deeper connection with Art Laird.
At its core, Maxwell's novella serves to remind us that love and relationships transcend even the most tragic circumstances, reminding us that while we may be separated by death, our love and bonds live on in our hearts and souls.
So Long, See You Tomorrow is a powerful novella that tells a compelling story of tragedy and its devastating impact on the lives of those involved. It shows us the importance of staying connected and of understanding the sadness that comes when a loved one is taken away from us. It also serves as a reminder that even in our darkest hours, love is powerful enough to shape our lives and remind us of our worth. As Maxwell once wrote “Perhaps only love can make the world tomorrow what it should be today.”
