“Let the great world spin” by Colum McCann is a subtle, post-9/11 novel that focuses not on the tight rope walker, Philippe Petit, but on the impact he has on the characters below. We gain insight into what it’s like for these individuals to experience a freedom they will never possess. The novel delves into multiple themes of love and death, including romantic love, the compassionate love of a religious worker, the bond between brothers, the love shared among grieving mothers in a support group, and the love between a grandmother and her children.
In the novel, I chose to examine two characters that are distinct yet share similarities. John Corrigan, a member of an unidentified religious order, has been residing in the Bronx for a few years before his brother relocated to New York City in the early 1970s. John lives in an apartment with three prostitutes who are welcome to utilize his amenities at their discretion.
His brother, Carian, accompanies him in NYC, attempting to comprehend his brother’s lifestyle and provide assistance, support, and protection in order to keep him out of trouble. While volunteering at an elderly care facility, Corrigan develops a romantic relationship with Adelita, a nurse who reciprocates his love. The narrative concludes tragically as Corrigan and Jazzlyn are involved in a fatal accident while driving back from the court. Jazzlyn dies instantly, and Corrigan passes away en route to the hospital, leaving Carian, Adelita, and the readers to mourn.
In the novel, a significant portion focuses on the characters’ lives and acquaintances. An example is the two artists from the third story who were involved in the accident that caused Jazzlyn and Corrigan’s death. Another character introduced is Gloria, a grieving mother who eventually adopts Jazzlyn’s daughter. The theme of maternal love is highlighted through Gloria’s perspective as she reminisces about her tall son shaving, and reveals how simple moments trigger deep emotions. In the second story, we are introduced to Claire, a fragile and lonely mother who lost her son in the Vietnam War. Claire yearns for companionship and a chance to share her grief and sorrow. She wishes for relief from the mundane routine and desires to overcome her pain so she can present herself nonchalantly to her friends, whom she admires. Ultimately, Claire wants to ignore the world and express her love for her beloved son to her friends.
Gloria, a mother who lost all of her sons, comes back to Claire’s apartment after being mugged, and a lifelong relationship between the two starts. A prominent theme in this story is the hope of a mother. When Marcy sees the Man on Wire, she believes that the tightrope walker on the towers is her son who returned to life. Marcy’s longing for her son to appear on the wire prompts the question: “Why shouldn’t she be allowed to feel that way? What is wrong with believing in an angel or a devil? Why shouldn’t Mike Jr. show up on the wire?”
What is the problem with that? A sequence of rhetorical questions that make complete sense for a mourning mother, but we are aware that the scenario is both conceivable and unattainable. The narrative concludes with an extensive enumeration of “A foolish, never-ending menu of demise,” as a commentary on the audacious and thoughtless actions of the tightrope walker: “Death by tightrope.” Claire seems to believe that this type of death is inexpensive and desirable, questioning how he dares to squander his life and inflict pain on others.
Gloria, one of Claire’s friends from the support group, provides the closing voice in the novel. Despite appearing as a kind, elderly church lady, she is actually an educated and cautious black woman from Missouri. Having lost faith in God due to numerous tragedies, Gloria has become a religious-agnostic and now exercises caution and judgement to protect herself. She describes her self-defense mechanism as hiding behind a curtain and using a pleasant demeanor to keep others talking so she doesn’t have to reveal much about herself. However, as the novel progresses, Gloria finds happiness by adopting Jazzlyn’s child Jaslyn after losing her own sons in the Vietnam War. This ending aligns with Corrigan’s earlier discussion about triumphing in the face of loss. He suggests that when one is young, God embraces them and keeps them safe.
The challenge lies in remaining in a difficult situation and learning to recover from failure. The true test is being able to rise again after falling. Gloria remains authentic and successful, demonstrating how compassion can transform shared experiences into strong bonds of friendship. Similarly, Claire, who endured the loss of her son in the Vietnam War, was able to channel her grief into friendship, dedication, and a sense of meaning. In her last moments, she found solace in the presence of someone who cared enough to stay by her side.
