Modernism vs. Postmoderism

I think that "The Obsolete Man" portrayed the modernism vs. postmodernism contrast perfectly. On one end we have Mr.Wordsworth who is clearly postmodern. The story presents him as a man who upholds his values in religion, culture,and human rights in the face of danger. He will not back down to the state when questioned about his profession and beliefs. He could have easily gotten out of being "liquidated" by stating his profession as carpentry, but decided to stick with his passion and what he is true to. On the other end, we have to chancellor, who I would consider to be an extreme modernist until the very end of the story. Libraries were obolished so in his opinion if you considered yourself a librarian there was no use for you. He listened to everything that the state said, and would not change his values for anything except when put into the face of danger. He acted as a material machine and believed that nothing was more powerful than the state. There was no "God" or anything beyond this place. At the end of the epidose when there is about one minute till the bomb goes off the Chancellor makes the transition from modern to postmodern. He returns to the "state", is doomed obsolete, and murdered by his people. This was a very interesting/bit unrealistic story that gave a good interpretation of the basics of modernism and postmodernism.