American Power

American power permeates the book as one of the most important themes. In the mid-twentieth century, the United States dominated many world affairs as it faced off with the Soviet Union in the Cold War. In the book, the attitude of the United States towards other countries, is embodied by Hugh Montague or Harlot and Cal, Harry's father, who are rigidly anti-Communist and devote their lives to preserving American dominance. Both of these men are also strongly part of the established East Coast culture and Harry's family in particular has roots back to the founding of the country. Harry, Arnie Rosen, and Dix Butler, as part of a later generation, represent the future of this power: each is flawed in some way that will pervert America's dominance somehow. Harry is talented but has a taste for independence and a lack of ambition that hurt him in the...