Genre
Academic writing
Setting and Context
The setting changes throughout the text, but focuses on 20th Century New York in the final section.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Marshall Berman, who shares his thesis about modernity.
Tone and Mood
The tone is academic and serious but is also emotive towards the end.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Berman could be seen as the protagonist, while Robert Moses can be seen as an antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the text is between the positive and negative forces of modernity.
Climax
The climax of the text is the building of the expressway in the South Bronx.
Foreshadowing
The title of the text foreshadows Berman's conclusion about modernity.
Understatement
Berman uses the image of a bagel to describe the South Bronx expressway, which seems to be an understatement of the impact it had on people's lives.
Allusions
Berman alludes to Goethe's Faust repeatedly in the text.
Imagery
Berman uses extensive imagery to discuss New York City, and the impact of modernization on the city.
Paradox
Berman introduces the paradox of modernity in unifying people. He says that although they are united, they are united by something negative and frightening.
Parallelism
Berman draws a parallel between Faust's deal with the devil, and the bargain people make in the creation of new technology.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Berman describes how modernity as having the human ability to unite people.
