Martin !

Case Martin

Mrs. Norton - L1

AP Language & Composition

30 September 2016

Analysis

Burr, by Gore Vidal, has many closely related themes. The themes presented in this book

all center around the government of the United States. Vidal speaks on the strength of the

Constitutions longevity. Also, the perspective given on Founding Father characters in Burr also

debunks the attitudes most people have of them. The young government of the United States is a

main focus of this book. Therefore, the themes of the book will relate to it.

The Constitution if the United States was fourteen years old when Aaron Burr was the

Vice President. It was forty-six years old during the time period that the book takes place in. It

was one-hundred ninety-six years old when Burr was published. The United States Constitution

is now two-hundred twenty-nine years old; it is still the primary document for the U.S.

government. The time worthiness was a theme in Burr. Gore Vidal uses the book to canvas the

Constitutions ability to adapt to the times and survive throughout the existence of the United

States. The politicians in Burr often undermined the Constitution right after it was ratified, so

how could it be trusted to contain the government for centuries to come? The United States was a

world super power during the time that the book was being written. It was also a melting pot for

different races, cultures, and people. Gore Vidal used his book to make readers ponder the

strength and reliability of the Constitution for years to come by using a perspective on United

States government shortly after the Constitution was written.

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The same characters involved with the creation of the Constitution are used to

demonstrate a theme regarding the holiness of themselves. Modern regards towards our founding

fathers are very high. Most people think they are some of the best, and most important people in

modern history. People even idolize the men such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

However, the perspective of Aaron Burr reveals the corruption of our founding fathers. One

example of this is how Burr explains how James Madison can recognize Thomas Jeffersons

hypocriticalness and duplicity. This corruption of the most important people in United States

history is a theme throughout Burr.

As well as the most important people in American history, Americans often look at the

Founding Fathers as the most patriotic people in history. After all, most of them did fight on the

from lines at one time or another in the American Revelation. However, for them to be the most

patriotic, they would have to fight for the Constitution just as they fought for their independence.

George Washington and James Madison did fight, but not all of the Founding Fathers did. The

book shines a light on this. Specifically, it recognizes that Thomas Jefferson fought for

nullification, and Alexander Hamilton wanted a more Parliamentary government. This disregard

of the Constitution that Burr elaborates on takes the patriotic title away from most of the

Founding Fathers. This unmasking is a theme throughout Burr.

The Constitutions strength over time was questioned in this book. Also, the ethics and

patriotism of the is questioned. These questions are the themes of Burr. The disregard and neglect

of the United States Constitution, that the young United States government demonstrated, also

demonstrates the themes of Burr.

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