The Cinder Buggy - part 24 - Chapter XLIII - Damascene; resolution of the triangle; 122 years.

Click here for Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of my review of The Cinder Buggy.

Chapter XLIII is the final chapter of the novel and ties up the remaining loose ends of the story.   The plot is resolved in somewhat the same way as The Driver. The triangle is resolved in a much less philosophical way than the Randian triangles. Garrett's resolution helps one appreciate the Randian novels that incorporate the personal storylines more thoroughly into the philosophical conflicts. 

Page 357 indicates that the story ends in 1901.  The story thus spans 122 years (not including Garrett's description of modern New Damascus in Chapter I). 

The final word in the book is the term "Damascene," which means "to decorate metal with wavy patches of inlay or etching." American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition, 1976.  The "Damascene" reference in the novel was the name of a boat, but it is symbolic of the story.  The personal story of the characters is etched upon the story of iron and steel as sort of a decoration.  My own opinion is that the characters' stories are much more than decoration, but are not so integrated as the characters' stories in the Randian novels. 

In the next segment I will summarize Cinder Buggy's legacy and its proper place in American history.

Click here for part 25.