by Robert » January 6th, 2006, 4:25 am
Concering the first chapter, it seems that Chesterton really manages to set the stage for 'good' 'sound' ideas vs. the 'bad' unrealistic' ideas. How he goes into painstaking detail describing Gregory, but Syme is more of a transparent figure. A regular Joe. It would almost appear as though he were arguing, albeit ina subtle manner, that Syme's thoughts are so common sensical they are shared by, perhaps not the majority, but at leas the down to earth persons in the world. Everyone knows that revolutions are revoltuing in and of themselves. They are not to be an end without serious qualification.
One is drawn immediately into the story in virtue of the extreme contrast in views. One characterized as being the cuase of this extremeness, the other, commonplace and so obvious and almost simple in its profundity. I love it! I love it! All books should begin like this one. The language, like drinking exquisite wine...the whimsical commentary and short quips, utterly delightful...wow! (although I have it read it several times before).
[I am] Freudian Viennese by night, by day [I am] Marxian Muscovite
--Robert Frost--