Henry Adams

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the concepts found in Henry Adams' autobiography "The Education of Henry Adams," regarding the technological and social changes of the 19th century. The paper discusses Adams' rejection of technology and his praise for spiritual values and gives examples from the book to illustrate his points.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Adams' Rejection of Technology, Praise of Spiritual Values

From the Paper:

"Again on page 383 Adams juxtaposes the new science with religion; Adams' concept of education was being stood on its head by these new machines, and there had not been such a dramatic break with the past since Copernicus and Galileo broke the news to the world that the earth was round, not flat. Columbus proved something shocking too, but there had not been a "revolution" like the one at the Chicago "Gallery of Machines" ("Great Exposition of 1900) since Constantine (the Roman emperor who became a Christian) "set up the Cross." This kind of astonishing and radical departure from previous society, previous learning - this "mysterious energy" - had not been witnessed since the discovery of the Cross (Adams 383)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adams, Henry. The Education of Henry Adams: An Autobiography. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1930.
• Hahn, Herbert F. "'The Education of Henry Adams' Reconsidered." College English 24.6 (1963): 444-449.
• Kronenberger, Louis. "'The Education of Henry Adams': The Sixth of the 'Books That Changed Our Minds'." The New Republic LXXXXVIII.1267 (1939): 155-58.

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• Analytical Essay # 59811 : "Henry Adams's "The Education of Henry Adams"
• Book Review # 116675 : "The Education of Henry Adams"
• Book Review # 75048 : "The Education of Henry Adams"

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