One of the main themes is the portrayal of the political machinery. In 'The American Senator', Trollope shows how the political system functions with all its intricacies, power plays, and the influence of different interest groups. Another theme could be the relationship between politics and society. It depicts how political decisions impact the daily lives of ordinary people and how society, in turn, shapes the political landscape.
The tone in 'The American Senator' can be somewhat satirical when looking at the American political scene, while his other political novels may have a more straightforward or even a bit more nostalgic tone when dealing with the British political past. In 'The American Senator', Trollope is observing a foreign political system and highlighting its quirks and foibles, whereas in his other works about Britain, he may be more interested in chronicling the evolution of the political system he is more familiar with.
American political novels often explore power dynamics. They show how power is gained, maintained, and abused in the political arena. For example, in 'All the King's Men', the main character's rise and fall in politics is a central theme. Another characteristic is the exploration of social issues intertwined with politics. Novels like 'The Jungle' highlight the connection between political decisions and the living conditions of the working class.
It has a great influence. It introduced new themes like extreme mind - control in politics. Many later American political novels were inspired to explore similar themes of hidden political agendas and the use of people as pawns.
The 'Manchurian Candidate' is a significant work within American political novels. It often delves into themes of mind control and political manipulation. It shows how easily a person can be turned into a puppet for political ends, which reflects the dark side of the political arena.
This could refer to an exploration of how the concept of democracy is presented in American political novels. Such novels often reflect the ideals, challenges, and realities of democracy within the American context.
In American political novels, 'absolute power' is often a central theme. It can represent the corrupting influence that unchecked power has on individuals in the political arena. For example, in some novels, characters with absolute power might engage in unethical behavior to maintain their position, like suppressing opposition or manipulating the media.
American political fiction novels usually have complex characters. These characters are often involved in political struggles, and their motives and actions are shaped by the political environment. In 'Primary Colors', the characters are real - life - like politicians and those around them, with all their flaws and ambitions. They also often have a strong sense of the current political climate. They can be a response to events like in 'Fahrenheit 451' which was written during a time of concerns about censorship and political control over media. And they sometimes present different political ideologies, like 'Atlas Shrugged' which champions individualism against collectivist ideas in politics.
One of the best is 'All the King's Men' by Robert Penn Warren. It delves into the world of politics, power, and corruption through the story of Willie Stark. Another great one is 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair, which, while also focusing on the meat - packing industry, has strong political undertones regarding labor rights and social reform. And '1984' by George Orwell, though set in a fictional totalitarian state, is often considered relevant to American politics in terms of themes like government surveillance and control of information.
Censorship is a major political theme. The government burns books to control what people know. Another theme is the power of the state over the individual. The state dictates what is acceptable and not.