Analysis of Primary Colors
Analysis of Primary ColorsPolitics is a bloodsport, one big game of corruption, muckraking, prostitution, and defilement, which is played by the politicians, the media, and the seemingly innocent public that tends to forget that politicians are humans also, no better than the masses except for one thing, the ability to play the game. Primary Colors by Anonymous portrays this fraudulent game perfectly, exhibiting all of the dark aspects of a political campaign: from the vicious media in their pursuit of scandals, to the traitorousness of opposing candidates to destroy each other, all the way to the secretive sexual interactions taking place during the campaigning process. Yet in this vice-corrupted novel, Anonymous also manages to let the human side of the tainted politicians shine through, showing that they are imperfect, that they have flaws and weaknesses, and that they make mistakes in exactly the same fashion as all other human beings do. It is with these decadent political figures, Jack Stanton and Freddy Picker, that Anonymous in Primary Colors shows that there is still a nobleness to politics, a dedication to the voters, a love of the political game, and a human compassion in all of it.
It is important to mention the definition of noble in order to avoid misunderstanding the word, for according to the Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia, the definition of noble is �stately and imposing; of magnanimous nature,� and referring to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, noble means �characterized by or indicative of virtue or magnanimity; high minded; imposing of appearance; grand; impressive� (475). Both definitions of the word noble imply that a person can have a noble appearance and that a person�s main objectives and actions are noble, but one should keep in mind that even noble people are not perfect people. This is especially true with the characters of Jack Stanton and Freddy Picker. Jack Stanton�s appearance, especially when he is presenting himself to the public, doing what he loves best�mingling with �the folks,� is noble. The public looks up to him, �he was a big fellow� (Anon., 1) and the manner in which he interacts with the people, his meaningful handshakes and physical contact to them, truly listening to them, always remembering their names, and considering them friends is exemplary of nobleness. On the other hand, Freddy Picker�s appearance is completely different, a trim, taut, and serious man, someone who has had to struggle to come to terms with himself (299), but his nobility comes forth when he speaks to the public. In all of his public appearances, Picker always seems to be speaking what is exactly on his mind--just speaking the truth, and even when the reader discovers that he has been putting up a fa�ade all along, the fact that Picker admits to his conflicts and problems only re-emphasizes his nobleness.
One of the most important components to a political campaign is the voter, for no political candidate can be...
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