Essay Questions

What is the symbolic meaning of the title ‘The Fat Man in History’?

Carey wrote this book to depict its inhumane qualities at the advent of capitalism, which worked only to favor a few elite individuals and companies. According to Karl Marx, capitalism is a vampire that sucks the blood of the poor workers. Few industries and individuals control the economy at the expense of the poor people. The fat man is a symbol of capitalism, and his obesity epitomizes the oppression of the poor workers. Therefore, the title of this book is symbolic to represent the evils of capitalism.

Is an evaluation of a consumerist economy emerging as the central theme?

Overconsumption driven by greed is the primary motivation that drives Carey to write this book. The oppressor is equated to an obese man who has a big appetite despite knowing that other people have not eaten. The few commercial businesses and influential individuals control the economy, and they claim that the market is operating freely. In such an environment, workers are exploited. Similarly, small businesses struggle to break-even because of the limited available resources at their exposure.

What is the symbolic meaning of the borderline?

Carey's entire work is figurative because most of his statements have hidden meanings. In the story 'A Windmill in the West,' the borderline symbolically represents ancient expansionism and colonialism. The soldier guarding the border represents the poor worker. For instance, the author says that the soldier becomes mad with time and does not know what is happening around him. At last, the soldier cannot identify which country is on either side of the border. Unfortunately, this illustration is the actual reality of imperialism to ordinary citizens and workers who work tirelessly but never get rich.