Content and IdeasJack Kelly's Gunpowder delves into the history behind one of the world's most influential inventions. It has it's origins in Ancient China and soon finds it's way to Europe. This artificial fire had qualities never seen before and it completely altered warfare. The novel teaches of the uses of gunpowder, whether this be for good or violence. Gunpowder shows the reader why gunpowder is important and how it became that way. It portrays the effect of gunpowder on culture and science. It is human nature to harness and control fire. Humanity wishes to attain external power, and gunpowder fulfills this. Gaining the ability to control this artificial fire was a major point in history. Yet, gunpowder is just the first in this path. The invention of the atomic bomb has man parallels to the discovery of gunpowder. Yet so far, gunpowder has influenced the fate of the world much more than the atomic bomb.
|