The Atlas

The statue in front of Rockefeller Center, the Atlas, is an Ancient Greek Titan who supported the world. The artist, Lee Lawrie, designed the statue to show the punishment for Atlas defying Zeus. the God. This statue represents the power that it takes to keep the world in order. Similar to that of the works of literature, The Awakening, Slaughterhouse Five, and Invisible Man, the statue is a representation of power.
The Atlas statue at first look seems to represent strength and power. The Awakening by Kate Chopin also includes control and strength. Like Edna has to overcome what she has always been doing in order to be free and have power over her own life, the Atlas must carry the world to make up for what has happened. Edna has to risk what she has to get to something better.
In Slaughterhouse Five and Invisible Man, the main characters face a power struggle, which is similar to the statue. While trying to gain power but actually losing it, the characters fight through change and uncertainty. Billy, who is unstuck in time, has no control over his life. Kurt, a prisoner of war, has no power over what is happening to him. Last, the Invisible Man cannot change his life for the better because of his lack of power. The Atlas has to struggle and use the power left within him to keep the world intact and safe.
When people pass by the two ton statue, they are inspired by the strength of the character that is holding up the world. The statue clearly represents might and potential. While one can take is as a powerful person who is pushing through pain, another can see it as someone who is struggling to keep it up. The Atlas seemed to be the best representation of the motif power.