Discussion for Henry Adams’s, “The Dynamo and the Virgin”

l. Find 3 key passagcs fiom rhe te.\t rr"herr- Adarus descrihcs u,hal the "'V-irgin'" syntholizes tt:

him. What rvas the intluclcc of tltis forcr:',)

- 1n L{enry Adattts' T'ltr Edtttttitttt rl H<'nr}' Atkrmt: "Chapter -XXV' 'l'he l}5'nanto and tltc

Virgin". nudiir.ncs are ahle'to seL- the rt'lere'nce of tltc "Virgin", i\lthuugh. rhe "Virgin"

sy=ntholizes a porvertuI rvorking ftrrce'.

"...their lincs: their lighrs and shadorvs: thcir dr'corativr- sculpture: hut he rvas et'en less

conscious than thev of the t'orce thnt t:realed it all- the Virgin. tht Wonran- tr)' u'irrtsc

gcnius 'tht-' strttely [lonunlcnls o1'superstition' \\'cre built. throug]t u,hic]r !ihL- $rAs

cxprr"ssed." (Adatns. 168| (Virgin S1'rnhol;

"S),ruhol orcnL-rg.y. thc Virgin hrd lr.:ted ils thc llreirtest liirr.re the Wcslern rvorld ever f'elt.

antl had dralvn man's flctiviti€s ltt hcrself rnore strongly than irnl'{llherpo$,cr, nairtral or

srrpr.rnattrral. had L'\crtion,-.1 thc historian's bttsiness u,as to t-ollotv the track tllthc

ener*yt to find u'lrerc il carne lionr and u,here it u,ent tol its conrplex sourue anr.l shiiting

cirannels: ils r,alues, r'qui\'alenhi. corlvL'rsions." (Adan:s. iTlliVitgin S)'mboll

,,\s 1,.ou can see. ludiencrs irre rble to sec rihal the "Virgin" s!tnhnlizes ter Adirrns. ln tlte

iirst passirge. arrdientes are ahout to sct'- htln'the "'virgin" s1'tnhollzes III)IIIL'II in religion

and arr. in the second passagl'. audic.lces are able to s*e horv ihr"'Yirgin" is "tltc great

ftrrce in lhr- Wc'stem ur"rrld"'. Adarns is rnaking it clt-ar thar thc. "Virgitr"'has the po\vrr ro

create inspiration und all things r:orid il a cornplex rvav.