"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing." (Bradbury 215) Bradbury is trying to tell us that books are important in society and must not be taken for granted. In conclusion, memory and history are often altered or changed in dystopian literature as a form of control. In 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, memory and history are controlled together at the same time to keep the people from uprising or knowing anything outside of what is absolutely needed.
In this selection from the autobiography of Malcolm X titled “My First Conk”, readers will find out about Malcolm X's first real step towards what he calls “self-degradation”. Although there is no exact thesis stated in the excerpt there are still clear points stated throughout the reading. When Malcolm X wrote this piece the idea was to show the reader how society can make one feel like they must change to be considered better than who and what an individual really is. It is also expressed that one's individuality can be taken away and the negative outcomes one can struggle with after that change. It is described that society can be a truly horrifying thing and the ways men and women try to fit in can be both shameful in the long
After years of believing Lynn must become vocal they were introduced to the idea of Lynn using sign language to communicate. At first they were hesitant because of what they had heard, and because signing was not allowed at most of the deaf schools. After meeting with some signing friends they decided to give sign language a try, hoping it wouldn't hinder Lynn’s learning. They soon found that signing was a very important discovery for Lynn. For once she could actually understand what her parents were talking about, and she could also express what she wanted to say.
These books established the atmosphere and seductiveness of”utopia" and fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of his inability to conform. The characters struggle to hide this fact from the state's relentless supervision. This struggle leads them to eventual conflict with some hand of the state, which serves as the author's voice presenting the reader with the 'absurdity' of the principles on which the society is based. The similar fear of the state's abuse of power and technology at the expense of human individuality present within these novels speaks to the relevance of these novels within their historical context and their usefulness for awakening people to the horrendous consequences of their ignorance.
Author O’Brian also confuses the reader by writing his novel as if everything that was told took place in the real world. For example, just by saying “this is true” (64) doesn’t always make it true. O’Brian leaves it up to the reader to distinct what they see the story as: reality or fiction. It is said that “a true war story… makes the stomach believe” (74). Author and character O’Brian tell the story in such a way to make it believable that the two different people are really the same person.
English 102-011 24 March 2009 Challenging the Status Quo Authors write stories that present characters attempting to rebel against societal expectations in order to challenge readers to question their own tendencies to conform to different situations. “’Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” by Harlan Ellison is one such story. In “’Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” one of the main characters, Everett C. Marm, is the rebel. Often referred to as the Harlequin, Everett C. Marm rebels against the status quo. He challenges the accepted societal norm of punctuality and its importance to the smooth functioning of society.
When faced with a hard decision with no time to think, we often make irrational decisions based on certain circumstances. To take the law upon oneself is not an option available to those who have no authority. John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ readers are confronted with a situation of similarity as George’s malignant action of shooting Lennie at the end of the novel was pressured by the threat of Curley and an apparent weakness for other’s suffering. George’s actions raised debate on how his response can be justified, however, also condemned. In support of George, he saved Lennie from a potential death at the hands of Curley, however in rejecting George’s actions, it was not definite that Curley was going to kill Lennie, but by shotting him,
Foreshadowing Essay- ''How does Steinbeck's portrayal of Lennie in Chapter One help to prepare us for the dramatic and tragic events later in the novel ?'' Steinbecks portrayal of Lennie in Chapter One help to prepare us for the dramatic and tragic events later on in the novel. Lennie forgets what George told him about not speaking to Curleys wife. This creates a clear image for the reader as they now know Lennie is a bit airheaded and that he needs to be more alert. ''So you forgot that awready did you''.
In the novel, The Road by Cormac McCarthy there are many different aspects of good and evil, some of which could be misunderstood due to one’s interpretation between the two because of the pressures of society. Specifically asking the questions what distinguishes the two and if human nature plays a role in determining what is the most basic factor “good” or “evil”. The novel suggests there is not really any good and evil however the manner in which the character adapts to the new world can be viewed in either a positive or negative manner. The true distinction between good and evil behavior is how people survived in abandoned civilization and how one encountered its hardships. This is evident in the journey of a father and son, struggling for food, warmth and basic necessities that one needs to live.
William Golding’s first novel, Lord of the Flies, is a book that has been challenged repeatedly. It’s an obvious statement when I say that people can argue for both sides of this debate, but there are several points that can be made for the interest of the people that do not want the book to be challenged or banned. This novel is one of a fictional setting and plot, but is based upon an underlying theme of reality. William Golding applies the times of war and the struggling society to the beginning of this novel, and the idea of both of those aspects to the children on the island. When the first copy of the novel was in print, and being distributed, the book began with an introduction as to how the children ended up on the island.