The Garden of Eden in ATKM and Analysis First Chapter in Winesburg

This week during class Lauren presented her allusion presentation on The Garden of Eden. I thought it was very interesting how she compared Adam Stanford, in All the Kings Men to the actual Adam in the Bible. The comparison between the to starts out simply that they are both named Adam which may have been a point that Warren was trying to make in order to make a closer connection between the two characters. Adam Stanfords life can also be compared to the real Adam in the Bible, because like the real Adam, Adam Stanford goes from innocence with good intentions to corruption and sin. Adam Stanford started out his life as an innocent young child. Throughout his life he does all he can to do good and make the right decisions but just like Adam in the bible, Adam Stanford allows sin and temptation in his life. Adam Stanford gets tied up and connected with Willie which is similar to how Adam eats the forbidden fruit. In both cases knowledge leads to corruption and the final result is death and loss of innocence through the evils of sin.
        The first chapter in Winesburg, Ohio may seem at first glance to be a short three and a half pages, however, I believe this chapter may represent common themes and ideas that may be expressed throughout the novel. My reaction the the first chapter was one of excitement. I say excitement because after reading the first chapter I got the feeling that i was about to be let in on information that can only be gained through years of experience. I say this because first off the writer to me seems as if he has done many things in his life and now all he wants to do is step back relax and some how write about morals and life lessons he has learned through the way he learned them and that is by actual living and showing the individual highs and lows of the ever day common person. I also liked how the old man is at the point in his life where he knows death could come at any moment and instead of fearing that moment he lives everyday to his fullest. keeping this in mind I felt as if I was going to get the total truth and nothing but it, due to the point in life in which the old man is at. In reading the first chapter I also noticed how the old man had something inside of him that was spurring him to write. Its as if he has done everything he has wanted to do in his life and now he is at peace because he is able to look out the window and write about his life. This inner feeling that he describes himself as having is a feeling of youth inside of him because he is able to live his life with happiness and care free which enables him. The old man also discusses a lot about truths and how man invented all the truths and some men choose to live their lives based on these truths.