At 09:12 AM 11/07/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>i finished gresham's _nightmare alley_ a few days
ago,
>and it was great.
>my only complaint about the book is some odd
socialistic
>rhetoric in the book. i call it odd because its
like
>your sitting at the movie theater and all of a sudden
a
>commercial pops up in the middle. it weakens the
book.
>the implication is that stan's dilemma just might be
a
>result of the evils of capitalism, and thats pure
rubbish.
>stan is destined for hell whether under the cruel
yoke
>of capitalism or arm-in-arm with brother marx and
engels.
Perhaps I digress, but I find this an interesting statement.
Can't argue with the first bit, the intrusion of a political
point weakening the story. If the point isn't inherent in the
plot and character development, then no inserted explanation
is going to sell it. But it's the last bit that I'd like to
question. Can there be no evil inherent in capitalism, pre or
post the socialist decline? Were capitalism and socialism our
only choices, and now with the triumph of capital are we left
with acceptance as the only option to personal
salvation?
I know I'm out of step, but even after the fall of the wall,
I can't say I've found peace topping up my morality at
Wal-Mart. Too many colour choices perhaps.
Kerry
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