American Rhetoric
American Rhetoric is a novel by Paddy Kelly published in September 2017. It is Kelly’s sixth novel and second comedy. The story is set in the near, dystopian future in Washedupton, P.C. the new capital of the United States. Told in the third person it is a dark parody of American politics. The main themes are the shortcomings of the American two party system, corruption in politics and the limited ability of the people to influence their government in a meaningful way.
Plot
Set in a dystopian future, sometime after the fourth term of the Ronald Lump administration, (the two term law has been rescinded), Hawaii has been traded to the Chinese while Michigan has been sold to the Canadians in an effort to relieve America’s $100 trillion debt. Thaddeus Enoch Pervers, an inordinately tall individual since puberty, is stuck in a dead-end, mind-numbingly boring job as a machine operator in a gigafactory, polishing recycled ball bearings. Thaddeus’ ultimate ambition in life is to get on the government housing list so as to obtain permission to buy a two bedroom house to relocate his family. One day, while at the Department of Motor Vehicles, Pervers mistakenly files insurance papers with a disgruntled DMV clerk and gets sucked into the dark vortex of the American political system. Adding to a plethora of Orwellian social characteristics, scientific advancements have extended the average life span to 100 and beyond. Along the way Thaddeus is mentored by a 109 year old, retired senator, Sydney S. Snodgrass. The plot, while pure parody, borrows heavily from actual present day political situations and developments.
Characters
Thaddeus Enoch Pervers
an ‘everyday Joe’ working as a low level production line, machine operator in a ball bearing factory in Brubaker Ohio. Only his Friday night bowling breaks the monotony of the abnormally normal’ life style he leads. His only ambition in life is to earn enough government points to be eligible for a two room house.
Senator Sydney S. Snodgrass
One hundred and nine year old politician, steeped in the tricks of the trade who acts as mentor to Thaddeus.
The BB Stackers
The three members of Thaddeus’ bowling team, ‘The BB Stackers’, Joe, Bob and Fred who act as his confidents.
Prudence and Taranjello Pervers
Wife and son, (named for his mother’s favourite Jell-O flavor desert), of Thaddeus.
Locations
Washedupton, P.C.
The renamed capital of the U.S., is the setting for the bulk of the story.
Major Concepts
The story is a parody of the two party system in the U.S., Democrats and Republicans, which continually strive to countermand each other’s progress. Additionally, it treats the struggle against the impossible odds of forcing the Congress to work together and ultimately, in this story, to get the two sides to agree to a balanced budget before the annual deadline.