On Martin Roth's

Though political in nature, Paine's writings present a figure of the American man that would "belong to the fictions of Cooper, Melville, Mark Twain, or Faulkner." The American man that Paine proposes does not yet exist but actually comes about due to the "transformation he [Paine] projects." The reader, consciously or unconsciously, assumes what Paine calls "the true character of man." In order to do this, the reader must attain "clarity of vision" by separating himself from "narrowness, bias, or prejudice." Although this may sound all well and good, Roth points out that "the true character of man" comes a rather high price-- "each of the inalienable rights of the Revolutionary movement has the repudiation of bonds as its primary meaning." In other words, "[t]he right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is the right to remain unattached." Man's freedom is thus total and complete, but at the cost of relationships and personal ties. Finally, even the foundational bonds of family must be sacrificed, leaving only "trade" and "commerce" untouched.

Roth is one of the few authors found that looks critically at Paine. Because of this it is refreshing to read this particular article. He is different than those authors who seem unable to stop praising Paine's ability to elevate man and celebrate liberty. This is not to say that Roth disagrees with them, but rather that he goes one step further. Roth poses a very poignant question the reader-- "In order to fly, you must certainly cast off your chains, but what are they?" This is in no way a condemnation of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," but rather a question that each individual should ask themselves. In a way, Roth is asking the pursuer What are you pursuing? Are you running blindly towards an unknown goal? What if you arrive at your goal? Are you aware of the cost of such a pursuit? Are you willing to pay that price? More importantly, what is this "happiness" you are pursuing?

Roth finds Paine's idea of happiness "chilling"-- "Her [America's] situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she [America] has nothing to do but to trade with them." In short, America's happiness is necessarily tied with her isolation. Due to her location, America does not need to bother with the "fraternite" of the French Revolution. Indeed, one could almost modify the cry of the American Revolution to "my life, my liberty, and the pursuit of my happiness." One could argue that this is an overly critical take of Paine, that the American is overcoming obstacles that are hindering him in his pursuit of liberty. Roth responds, however, by saying that the bonds that the American severs "may