Francisco D'Anconia Essay

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Bottom of Form ------------------------------------------------- Francisco d'Anconia He had the vitality of a healthy human being, a thing so rare that no one could identify it. … Nobody described his appearance as Latin, yet the word applied to him, not in its present, but in its original sense, not pertaining to Spain, but to ancient Rome. His body seemed designed as an exercise in consistency of style, a style made of gauntness, of tight flesh, long legs and swift movements. … His hair was black and straight, swept back. The suntan of his skin intensified the startling color of his eyes: they were a pure, clear blue. His face was open … reflecting whatever he felt … the blue eyes were still and changeless, never giving a hint of what he thought. (p 117 s 152) Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d’Anconia (p 117 s 152) is the last descendent of one of Argentina’s noblest families (p 53). He is 36 years old at the start of the book. As a child he spoke five languages, and his English lacked an accent (p 91 s 152). A d’Anconia did not permit himself “to think he is born a d’Anconia” — he was “expected to become one” (p 91 s 152). Francisco d’Anconia’s father brought up his only son “all over the world” so he would “consider the world as his future domain” (p 90 s 152). When he was ten he spent the winter “in Madrid, at the home of the Duke of Alba” (p 92 s 152). The winter after that, he “shipped out as a cabin boy on a cargo steamer that carried d’Anconia copper” and worked for three months while his father searched for him. Francisco could do anything he undertook, he could do it better than anyone else, and he did it without effort. There was no boasting in his manner and consciousness, no thought of comparison. His attitude was note: “I can do it better than you,” but simply: “I can do it.” What he meant by doing was doing superlatively. … His father

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