The Magnificent Ambersons

Since finishing Moby Dick, I decided, as Rick Warren would say, to, "ride the wave" of momentum and start another book. Chris took me to Barnes & Noble last weekend, where I picked up some new books - The Bostonians, by Henry James, Othello, by Shakespeare, and The Magnificent Ambersons, by Booth Tarkington. Following Moby Dick with Othello would have essentially been literary suicide, I settled on The Magnificent Ambersons.

Written in 1918, The Magnificent Ambersons follows the Amberson family, made rich by the family patriarch, Major Amberson. The Ambersons are the premiere name in their town of Midland - an idea deeply entrenched and celebrated most by Major Amberson's grandson, George Amberson Minafer. Spoiled from birth by a gentle, yet naive mother (Isabel Amberson Minafer), George believes the family name to be everything and, most famously, characterizes those who disagree with him or who are outside the family to be "rifraff."

As the book follows George's life, we see a spoiled boy become an entitled young man who scoffs at change - mainly, the invention of the horseless carriage - and eventually becomes so self-absorbed in the business of living up to the Amberson name that he barely notices the landscape around his family's serene town slowly turn into a dirty, industrialized city. The Amberson name ultimately fades with succeeding deaths in the family and, before he knows it, George is left penniless and alone with his precious pride that had alienated even his closest confidant and friend, Lucy.

Tarkington intended The Magnificent Ambersons mainly as a commentary on the changing landscape of America from agricultural to industrial illustrated through the and fall of the Amberson family and the rise of another in its wake. After reading the book, let's just say - he succeeded. However, Tarkington's book also hits on some major moral and spiritual issues. Tarkington was not a Christian, but his exposition on the extent of the sins of George Amberson Minafer were raw and striking. Here are some of the subjects in the book that, in my opinion were remarkably represented in this book:

1. The dangerous entrapment of pride. George Amberson Minafer's entire life was built around his pride for the family name. He sought no vocational training after college, believing his "job" was to be a traditional gentleman. He looked down on everyone around him (ironically, including his own family at times). George simply cannot and will not rid himself of his precious pride because it had become his idol. At his lowest point of moral ineptitude, he even denies his mother's dying wish to see an old friend because he does not approve.
   
   
2. The love of money. George's pride was rivaled only by his love of money. It was the money that gave the Amberson's their status in society and enabled George's spoiled attitude in the first place. And lest one think this a problem solely on young George's shoulders, the book is replete with stories of the entire Amberson family mishandling and frittering away their wealth until the money they cherished most became their downfall.
   
   
3. The importance of friendship. Despite being disliked by the entire town, George is befriended by a sensible young woman, Lucy Morgan who becomes his closest confidant. Although George belittles many of her opinions (he cannot help himself), she loves him anyway. Even after he abandons their friendship in the cruelest of ways, she is by his side when he needs it most.
   
   
4. The hope of redemption and the beauty of forgiveness. As you read The Magnificent Ambersons, you are appalled at George's conduct and are not in the least surprised when George and the Amberson name are all but forgotten. However, it is through George's utter shame and desolation in the end that he is changed and forgiven by the two people he hurt most in the world.

As I said, Tarkington never meant The Magnificent Ambersons to be an allegory of the Christian walk nor am I seeking 93 years later to turn it into one. However, one needn't be a Christian to write so poignantly on the prevalence of sin and its effects on people's lives.

What Tarkington didn't understand was that we are all George Amberson Minafers. We are happy slaves to our pride and it is only the grace of God that can save us from ourselves through Christ's sacrifice for our sins. Even at our ugliest, God did not abandon us to our sins, but sent us Christ to redeem and forgive us!

That being said, I highly recommend The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington. Its American history, heartbreaking story, and relevant themes make it a compelling novel that will engage you to the very end. Again, I recommend the Barnes and Noble Classics Edition. Or, for you Kindle lovers, click here. Currently, the Kindle edition is FREE!

Happy Reading!

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2011: 1, 693