Walker Percy’s Pilgrim: The Moviegoer, Identity, and the American Landscape

Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer is one of the most significant American novels of the twentieth century. Numerous scholars have explored the theological intonations of the text, often focusing on either Kierkegaardian readings or the notion of man as wayfarer. However, such scholars have neglected Percy’s own characterization of his protagonist as a pilgrim centered in the Western tradition. This article seeks to address this oversight. It situates the novel within the context of the Puritan errand into wilderness and the significance of the frontier in American history and culture, providing an important expansion on extant scholarship.