![]() ![]() By alternating between different sides of Rockefeller’s personality without abandoning the book’s chronological and narrative structure, Chernow demonstrates the concurrent influences of The Spiritual and the Materialin Rockefeller’s life.įollowing the titan into his retirement, which lasted 40 years (1897-1937), Chernow examines Rockefeller’s revolutionary philanthropy. Finally, in Chapter 16 (“A Matter of Trust”) Chernow highlights Rockefeller’s legendary instincts and ingenuity in capitalizing upon the 1885 oil strike in northwest Ohio. Once the reader is convinced that Rockefeller was an evil monopolist, Chernow again shifts his focus in Chapter 15 (“Widow’s Funeral), where he humanizes Rockefeller by bringing his father back into the narrative following Eliza’s death in 1889. Then, in Chapter 14 (“The Puppeteer”), Chernow excoriates Rockefeller for acquiescing to Standard Oil’s most unethical practices and later disingenuously pretending that he never knew anything about them. ![]() Chapter 13 (“Seat of Empire”), however, portrays Rockefeller as an innovator who built Standard Oil’s monopoly on sound economic reasoning, as well as a benevolent manager respected by his employees. ![]()
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