Sunday, August 31, 2008

Modernism in "The Obsolete Man"


The character that best represents the difference between Modernism and Postmodernism to me is the Chancellor in "The Obsolete Man". In the opening scene the chancellor expresses the modernist view of the state in his sentencing of Mr. Wordsworth. The Chancellor clearly expresses the modernist view when he says "Since there are no more books Mr. Wordsworth, there are no more libraries and of course it follows that there is very little call for the services of a librarian." This statements represents the Modernist way of thinking that there is a scientific approach to everything and that their is an absolute truth that can be understood through rationalism and logic. The Chancellor goes against this way of thinking when he calls out "In the name of God let me out" to Mr. Wordsworth. This statement goes against the Modernist way of thinking and reaches out to an irrational figure of faith. He quickly removes his Modernist mask and takes on a Postmodernist stance when his life is on the line and it eventually leads to his death by the Modernist State.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You include good quotes to argue your point that the Chancellor is a modernist.