The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Literary foreshadowing is a narrative technique in which an author hints at or suggests future events or outcomes within a story, creating suspense and anticipation. These hints can take the form of subtle clues, symbols, or motifs that subtly indicate what may happen later in the plot, often adding depth and complexity to the narrative. Foreshadowing can build tension, develop themes, and enhance the overall impact of a story by preparing readers for significant events or revelations to come.

In The Power Broker, Caro uses the introduction to juxtapose two events in the life of Robert Moses. He threatens to resign from the swim team if he does not get his way, and his resignation is accepted. Later, Moses threatens to resign if Mayor Wagner does not renew one of his many important and influential positions. Wagner is cowed whereas Moses’s fellow student was not. This contrast foreshadows the immense power that Moses will amass, showing the extent to which he feels confident and powerful enough to bully the mayor of New York City into doing what he wants. By including this in the introduction, Caro foreshadows the rise of Moses’s power.