Eugene Macalma

Professor Kevin Crawford

Comm 310

29 May 2014

“The Obsolete Man” from follows a librarian named

Romney Wordsworth, who’s sentenced to be executed by his own method because he’s judged obsolete by the State (“The Obsolete Man”). The State, a totalitarian state, deems him to be obsolete because of his occupation and belief in God (“The

Obsolete Man”). The story of “The Obsolete Man” follows the proper story structure, which delivers strong themes that the audience can understand in an effective way.

Wordsworth is the protagonist of the story as the protagonist is the main character that tries to reach his/her goal ( Haven, 642). The antagonist is the

Chancellor as the antagonist obstructs the protagonist to reach his/her goal (Haven,

642).

When Wordsworth is on trial, he is tells the State that he’s a librarian and that God exists (“The Obsolete Man”). This leads to a debate between the Chancellor and Wordsworth about what is considered obsolete (“The Obsolete Man”). The State sentences Wordsworth to death; however, Wordsworth requests that he gets to die at his home with an audience to watch him die (“The Obsolete Man”). While the

Chancellor grants this, it’s also significant to note that this is the inciting incident, which “sets the Protagonist on his journey” (Lahaie, Terminology and Concepts 5).

The story does a great job with the exposition, which is information that gives the audience understand of the setting and history before the events that is in front of the audience (Lahaie, Terminology and Concepts 9). The exposition starts with a dialogue from the narrator that reveals important information for the audience to understand the situation of the protagonist and the current state of the world.

The biggest obstacle of the protagonist is when Wordsworth is waiting for the Chancellor to convince Wordsworth to let him out, which is to see how he’ll handle the expectation of death nearing (“The Obsolete Man”). Nevertheless, the

Chancellor went against what he totally believed and asked in the name of God to let him out, which Wordsworth was trying to prove that even in our lowest moments we look to God for help (“The Obsolete Man”).

The climax was the Chancellor begging to be let out in the name of God (“The

Obsolete Man”). The climax is known as “the high point of the story” (Lahaie,

Terminology and Concepts 20). This leads to the resolution that the State has considered the former Chancellor obsolete (“The Obsolete Man”).

In conclusion, the story is beautifully constructed with suspense during the middle of the story where the Chancellor psychologically battles Wordsworth before the midnight. The story is also beautifully constructed through the themes that government cannot completely take away man’s right and free will. It pretty much teaches us that the government is obsolete denying human’s their God-given rights.

Work Cited

Haven, Kendall F. Story Proof: The Science behind the Startling Power of Story.

Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. Kindle File.

Lahaie, Scot. The Four Narratives. Virginia Beach: Regent University, n.d. Lecture

Powerpoint.

Lahaie, Scot. Terminology and Concepts. Virginia Beach: Regent University, n.d.

Powerpoint Lecture.

“The Obsolete Man.” The Twilight Zone. CBS. 2 June 1961. Web. 28 May 2014.