The economic and technological boom in America in the 1920s
The author opens by portraying a period of enormous wealth in America, in stark contrast to the same period's debt-ridden, war-torn Europe. To underscore this contrast, the author employs vivid imagery to present a thorough overview of the period's technological developments. He claims that before the war, "electricity powered only a quarter of American manufacturing," but that "ten years later, steam engines had all but vanished and our production was almost entirely electric." He then goes on to cite "incandescent lights," "washing machines," "vacuum cleaners," "motion pictures," and "the wireless." The author then recounts the economic windfall of mass vehicle production which "created a phenomenal circle of prosperity in which consumption and employment fueled each other." He further highlights the financial success of the era, noting that "after the deflation of 1920...a period of unprecedented economic growth began," and that "profits during the first half of the decade went up 75 percent."
The imagery of the Narrator’s father
The narrator used vivid imagery to portray his father's character and determination. He describes his father's face as "fixed only on itself—determined to be determined," highlighting his single-mindedness. The narrator also likens his father to Victor Frankenstein's monster, stating, "Like Victor Frankenstein's creature, my Bevel would be made up of limbs from all these different men." This metaphor implies that, like Frankenstein's monster, his father's drive and strength are made up of many diverse components. The narrator also recounts his father's "long stories" and "calamitous home renovations," highlighting his father's great involvement in his life. Finally, the narrator paints a picture of his father “upholding his principled anger as an example for exactly no one”, suggesting his determination and strength is ultimately isolated and unshared. All of these images come together to create a vivid portrait of the narrator’s father and allow the readers to understand the narrator’s father in depth.
Imagery of the crash
The crash has been described as a calamity of "natural proportions" and a "panic," evoking chaos and destruction. The traders are portrayed as "victims," helpless victims of forces beyond their control. Crowds "thronging" Wall Street and congregating at banks and brokerage companies paint a dramatic picture of desperation and fear. The references to the "epic flood" of sell orders and a "selling frenzy" add to the chaos. However, the most stunning imagery is in the description of Rask, who is portrayed as a figure of power and control, "immune" to the disaster and "profiting colossally" from it. He is described as "targeting" companies and executing his trades with "systematic rigor," which creates an image of a powerful, almost superhuman figure untouched by the chaos and destruction of the crash.
The Tobacco business
Benjamin describes the product in a negative light, mentioning "the primitive sucking and puffing", "the savage fascination with smoke" and "the bittersweet stench of rotten leaves". This imagery paints a picture of the tobacco business being primitive, unsavory, and unappealing. He also paints a negative picture of the "misty complicities of the smoking room", implying that it is a place of deceit and dishonesty. Through these images, Benjamin's disinterest in the tobacco business is clearly conveyed.
