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Visible Empire


An epic novel—based on true events—of love, grief, race, and wealth.
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How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

Created: 08/07/19

Replies: 6

Posted Aug. 07, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

Mayor Ivan Allen bears a great responsibility--to keep Atlanta's spirits in tact (as much as may be possible) and to keep the city moving forward. How does he cope with this duty? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?


Posted Aug. 13, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
peggyt

Join Date: 08/10/17

Posts: 215

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

Mostly he represses his feelings and gets on with his duties until he breaks down finally and his wife comforts him. She seemed to be the representation of pure emotion while he was the stoic. He had what might have been considered at that time to be the correct, brave male response.


Posted Aug. 13, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ritai

Join Date: 02/15/17

Posts: 24

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

I think he reacted in a way that a lot of us might in such a tragic and overwhelming situation. It seemed like he was in a state of shock doing exactly what was required of him given his position. That is, until the end when he finally breaks down. I think he was remaining calm, not only for the citizens of Atlanta, but also for his wife.


Posted Aug. 13, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

Ivan took his position as Atlanta's mayor very seriously. He put on a brave face and did what a leader is expected to do during a time of tragedy-hold it together for the people he served. When he came home, he tried to manage his wife's behavior, treating her more as a constituent than a spouse. By doing so, he was unable to let down his guard and show his true feelings.

I think Ivan hoped his wife would assume the role of "leader's wife" and behave similarly. He was not prepared for her to be so incapacitated by her grief. I think if Lulu had not been so overwhelmed or dramatic, Ivan may have had the opportunity to ask her for comfort long before his emotional breakdown


Posted Aug. 14, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
AmberH

Join Date: 05/09/18

Posts: 85

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

I think Mayor Allen was so focused on being strong for his community, he never gave himself a chance to grieve and really absorb the tragedy until the end. Lulu took the crash quite hard as well, so I think in his home life he tried to be strong for her also, which ended up feeling like he was pushing her away.


Posted Aug. 16, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

As the mayor, he had both a responsibility, and a burden, to move things on in a flawless manner. He had to show strength to everyone, which meant he had to bury his own grief. Lulu was so grief stricken she couldn't function well, thus putting more pressure on him. I was glad he was finally able to share his grief with her and find some comfort.


Posted Sep. 09, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: How does Mayor Allen cope with his responsibilities? How does he balance his grief with his obligations to the city's residents?

My sympathy was with Mayor Allen, who had a responsibility to comfort the city as best he could and at the same time carry out his mayoral duties without, at the beginning, much comfort from Lulu in her understandably grief-stricken state. His responsibilities and the way he handled them called to mind for me the way my own city's various mayors have behaved in our times of crisis.


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