The Role of 'Power' in Asch's "In Search of America"

The array of characters that are introduced in this piece by Nathan Asch surprised me as to how these characters could spill out a certain aura of sorrow in which the reader would seek to empathize with.  Being the first 'case' to be read for the class, it was different from the previous pieces that were read.  The narrative given by Asch first introduces the character of Peder who is a farmer and decides to follow the narrator in "search of America."  With this new knowledge that the reader has been introduced to, the term 'power' comes to mind in trying to make sense of this narrative.  As Professor Graban states, "Power implies knowledge, while knowledge is constitutive of power: knowledge gives on power, but one has the power in given circumstances to constitute bodies of knowledge as either valid or invalid, truthful or untruthful."  While this term 'power' can be used to relate with other pieces that have been read in class, I think the term comes handy with this narrative.  Through the narrative, the reader (you+I) are given these stories of encounters with the people of the west.  By doing so, 'power' is circulated to the reader and the necessity of deciding whether to decide these stories as true or not is given.  Nathan Asch takes on this job to document these encounters with the various individuals he meets.  The circulation of power is first given to Nathan Asch by the individuals he meets for without these individuals, there is no "search" to be done.  The power gained by Nathan Asch is then given to the reader for it is our decision as to whether or not to believe the words he has written.  The implication that knowledge represents power is true for this circulation of power can also be considered the exchange of truths.