Psychological Analysis of "Hands" by Sherwood Anderson

“Hands” is the story of a fat, old man named Wing Biddlebaum who lives isolated in the town life of Winesburg, Ohio. He remained a mystery to the people after moving there 20 years ago. Upon reading the story, we can say that the theme of the said story is isolation and loneliness. The main character of the story lives alone and does not think that of himself as in any way part of the life of the town where he lives and had lived for how many years. We know that Wing Biddlebaum is a former teacher and we learn that the main character has supposedly inappropriately touched the boys he teaches and is now suffering the consequences. This is the reason why he has moved to this town. The effective use of symbolism and imagery seems to clearly demonstrate that Wing’s actions were sinful and now he is feeling guilt for doing something wrong.

The most prevalent image in the story is his hands. It was described as little, nervous and restless. He is very expressive with his hands when talking. Because of his sin, Wing has placed himself in a situation that prevents him from socializing with other people and more importantly prevents him from continuing in the journey of life towards happiness. His hands described physically as having slender fingers gives us a feminine picture and of him and tells us what his sexual preference may be.

Wing spoke closely only to George Willard, the boy reporter of the Winesburg Eagle. George would occasionally walk to his house in the evenings and Wing looked forward to these times. Only with George would Wing become alive. These things happening in the story adds to the feeling that Wing is a sinner; that he belongs to the federationJ. Why is it that Wing always looks forward to these times? What are they doing? It gives us the idea that they are doing something every time George comes to his house.  And that something isn’t that nice to mention. The suspicion is worsened by the fact that Wing would only come alive when George is around. Hmmm isn’t that fishy?? JJ. We are told that Wing’s hands are quick and skillful; he is talented. The question is “in what way?”

If Wing is a sinner, the ravine in which he lives so close to can be seen as hell. Through his action, Wing has brought himself closer to hell, and while he hasn’t yet made the plunge down the ravine, his surrounding would indicate that he has not made any improvements by changing his thoughts and/or behavior. He lacks the courage to change. Wing’s actions support this as he is always nervous and frantic. He goes out and stands on the fence, looking down the road for George, and the hurries back to his house, frightened or coward. Because he has not truly repented and changed, he is stuck near the ravine and cannot continue on the journey of life.

As Wing looks out towards the public highway, we are shown a boy and a maiden from the berry wagon who are obviously flirting. This is to show us and Wing how things are meant to be: boy/girl and man/woman, not man/boy.

In the flashback to the time when Wing was the school teacher known as Adolf Myers, we are given multiple descriptions of how Wing would stroke the shoulders and touch the hair of the boys he was teaching. These images tell us that something inappropriate is going on which, as mentioned, caused why he transferred to Ohio. The last paragraph of the short story tells us that Wing hasn’t change. It was mentioned in the paragraph that “he still hungered for the presence of the boy, who was the medium through which he expressed his love of man”. With this sentence all suspicions are being confirmed. Wing is a sinner. He indulged and is indulging into something that a real man should not be doing. This also confirms that he has done something to his students in Pennsylvania and the accusation of the people there are all true. He used George to satisfy his needs and to express his love not towards a woman but towards a man. This last paragraph of the short story answers all questions that is formulate din the minds of the reader.