The Art of the Lathe by B.H. Fairchild portrays American lifestyles in the style of poems. It shows how Americans deal with difficulties in their lives. The theme that I saw in this was that of American people accepting who they are when they are dealt with these hard times in their lives and in the country. The historical theme shows how we have developed and how we have changed our values. The author, Fairchild, shows his personal feelings and his own perspective through the book. He says why he believes people are wrong in the way that they see the 'ideal' American and how he sees that in his life and in the country as well.
The theme in Art of the Lathe, that I saw, was that of people living out their lives and learning that they had to deal with living as the steryotypical 'American'. Every American, and human in general, has their own special way of accepting that they are a part of something that is way bigger than themselves. Being a sports fan, for example, is like this. When a big Red Sox fan, for example, loves everything about their team, lives and dies with their team, when seemingly everything may revolve around their team - it could be annoying to some people. But this, this is just one person - with a love of a certain sport - who in involved in something bigger than themselves. They are one in a group of a thousand who are rooting for the same thing and love the same thing. All Americans are the same like this, they all want to feel like they are an indefinite part of something that they cannot control, but that they have to simple believe in because that is the only way and it is meant to be that way. People like to feel that there is something that will bring them together with other people in the same boat as them; to feel a part of something good. These people will - if they are true fans - stick with their team through thick and thin and always love them, even when they feel like they should hate them so much.
In American history, we see that when the British left England to become free we developed such family values, work ethic and education that we have now and is common to Americans. When these people left their home and came to America, they had to make a new start and build up from the ground, which took much dedication and tons of work - as well as the will to keep going and achieve success. As well, the British wanted excellent education and a strong religious foundation. When white Americans owned slaves, they did not teach them to read and write. The owners wanted to be able to control their slaves and didn't want any faith or education to change that at all. The slaves wantes the freedom, though, they wanted the freedom to learn what they were able to and the freedom to change their lives and get a good education. America is known for their great education, all of their freedom, their family values, and their work ethic and dedication.
When you look at the 'role of perspective' you can see that is relates to the theme for the book because Fairchild was a normal, regular American. There was one poem in the book that showed normal people doing regular things and having normal jobs. What fairchild adds is that he makes the job seem extremely wonderful and puts it in a new light, but then he says that it's not true and not realistic.
The theme that is throughout this book is the ways in which people accept who they are and try to live their life to the absolute fullest that they possibly can with who they are and what makes them happy, in reality. The many, many historical events which lead up to today in America continue to give all Americans something to strive for and a level that they constantly try to achieve by making the best of the life that they have and all they are given being in America. The author, Fairchild, makes a connection with what he has gone through and seen and makes his point and perspective clear through the whole book as to what he thinks Amercans strive for and how they do as well as how they should see the world. Seeing America as well as the world in this way shows that we as Americans can change who we are and who we want to be - as a country - in the future. All it takes is realizing who we were and who we are now and what we are capable of doing in our own lives.
