The song Acrobat by U2 can be related to the Handmaid's Tale in several ways. There are direct refrences to lines from the book, as well as more subtle clues that the song may be about The Handmaid's Tale.
The one which stuck out to me would be "What are we going to do now it's all been saidNo new ideas in the house and every book has been read." This is because of the rarity of books in the novel.
Books are forbidden in The Handmaid's Tale, except for the bible. This prevents almost any form of new ideas for reaching the public in a society where the news may or may not be reruns. Due to the fact that no new books are being read there are no new ideas within the houses that commanders own. Even if there were everything has already been said and ruled out.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Handmaid's Tale
"I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off..." (chapter 7 Atwood)
I found this passage particularly compelling in that it caused sympathy within me. I have found that even in my own life I do this on occasion. It is easy for a person to believe in stories but much harder to believe in life itself. The author uses an awesome skill to pull the reader in and make them feel what Offred was feeling. The total disbelief is present in the writing making it feel like you can almost hear it in the tone of Offred's voice, even though you cannot. It shows Offred's desperate attempt at maintaining sanity by controlling the one thing she has left... her thoughts.
"the Eyes of God" are meant to "protect" the people and in the same breath their name is meant to strike fear and respect to those that hear it.The symbol of a winged eye is used in reference to them. The wings could (in my opinion) symbolize angels, and that they are doing the work of god. The eye shows watchfulness. The combination of the two parts of the symbol along with the directness of their name leads one to conclude that the Eyes of God are to show that those in control of Gilead are equal to God himself.
While this was not the best book we have read so far, it was the only one that kept me guessing, and wanting to read on plus have an awesome ending. I thought the authors ending was nicely done and her manner of doing it was intriguing. Many people often overlook the history notes and i think that her subtle ending allowed her readers to make a choice as to whether or not they wanted to know if or how it ended. I really did enjoy this book from begining to end, with no exceptions.
I found this passage particularly compelling in that it caused sympathy within me. I have found that even in my own life I do this on occasion. It is easy for a person to believe in stories but much harder to believe in life itself. The author uses an awesome skill to pull the reader in and make them feel what Offred was feeling. The total disbelief is present in the writing making it feel like you can almost hear it in the tone of Offred's voice, even though you cannot. It shows Offred's desperate attempt at maintaining sanity by controlling the one thing she has left... her thoughts.
"the Eyes of God" are meant to "protect" the people and in the same breath their name is meant to strike fear and respect to those that hear it.The symbol of a winged eye is used in reference to them. The wings could (in my opinion) symbolize angels, and that they are doing the work of god. The eye shows watchfulness. The combination of the two parts of the symbol along with the directness of their name leads one to conclude that the Eyes of God are to show that those in control of Gilead are equal to God himself.
While this was not the best book we have read so far, it was the only one that kept me guessing, and wanting to read on plus have an awesome ending. I thought the authors ending was nicely done and her manner of doing it was intriguing. Many people often overlook the history notes and i think that her subtle ending allowed her readers to make a choice as to whether or not they wanted to know if or how it ended. I really did enjoy this book from begining to end, with no exceptions.
We
"Slowly she lifted my hand up into the light,my shaggy hand, which I so detested.I tried to pull back, but she held on tight.
'your hand...You don't know, there are few who do know, that there are women from here, from the city, who have come to love those others over there. You, too, probably have a drop or two of that sunny forest blood...'" Zamyatin(157)
I found this passage interesting because the author brings D-503's hands up early in the novel and this moment finally brings to the front their purpose. Zamyatin uses careful detail when describing characters. O-90's baby face is brought up early in the novel as well, and it is a baby that causes her to find her way, to leave her society. However D-503 is not as strong as O-90 and his hands help him to find answers, but he is still determined to be a good part of one state. In the first line "into the light, my shaggy hand, which i so detested..." Zamyatin uses commas to make his hands the objects he is detesting but too one can consider the light he detests, and in the end he does not like what is revealed to him, by his hands or the light.
The wall in WE by Zamyatin's wall held in the cleaner more efficient society, and successfully kept the outsiders from getting in. This allowed Zamyatin to portray the government as having total control and keeps many of the characters in the novel hidden from the truth. Getting to the other side of the wall in this (and most other distopia novels) signifies a break in society. This breach allows the author to further the reader's knowledge (at the same time as the character's) about life as it may have once been, and would be without the restrictions of the wall. Zamyatin never allowed his characters to "break" the wall, only go underneath it, which showed early on to the character would never be fully able to break free from his position.
Overall, i loved this book until the last few chapters. I thought that Zamyatin showed the human spirit as weak and I disagree. I REALLY wish that this book had alternate endings because I thinkt hat this book's ending was what ruined my intrest dystopia novels for the year. Way to go Mr. Dr. Benefactor.
'your hand...You don't know, there are few who do know, that there are women from here, from the city, who have come to love those others over there. You, too, probably have a drop or two of that sunny forest blood...'" Zamyatin(157)
I found this passage interesting because the author brings D-503's hands up early in the novel and this moment finally brings to the front their purpose. Zamyatin uses careful detail when describing characters. O-90's baby face is brought up early in the novel as well, and it is a baby that causes her to find her way, to leave her society. However D-503 is not as strong as O-90 and his hands help him to find answers, but he is still determined to be a good part of one state. In the first line "into the light, my shaggy hand, which i so detested..." Zamyatin uses commas to make his hands the objects he is detesting but too one can consider the light he detests, and in the end he does not like what is revealed to him, by his hands or the light.
The wall in WE by Zamyatin's wall held in the cleaner more efficient society, and successfully kept the outsiders from getting in. This allowed Zamyatin to portray the government as having total control and keeps many of the characters in the novel hidden from the truth. Getting to the other side of the wall in this (and most other distopia novels) signifies a break in society. This breach allows the author to further the reader's knowledge (at the same time as the character's) about life as it may have once been, and would be without the restrictions of the wall. Zamyatin never allowed his characters to "break" the wall, only go underneath it, which showed early on to the character would never be fully able to break free from his position.
Overall, i loved this book until the last few chapters. I thought that Zamyatin showed the human spirit as weak and I disagree. I REALLY wish that this book had alternate endings because I thinkt hat this book's ending was what ruined my intrest dystopia novels for the year. Way to go Mr. Dr. Benefactor.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Fahrenheit 451
In Fahrenheit 451 Montag is the name of the protagonist. I found this rather intresting in two ways. One way was that "montag" is also the name of the main character in L'etranger or The Stranger as it was translated. These characters both live less than intresting lives and find themselves commiting crimes when neither suspected taht they would. In both cases the two montags realized the error of the way they had been living by the end of the book. further more, Montag means monday when translated from german. I think this was used as a subtle hint to the reader that while the message was important and the characters well developed the books both touch on subjects as unappealing to approach as a monday morning.
In my opinion this book was interesting. It was probably my favorite so far in that it did have the element of technology that kept my imagination turning but also had fascinating situations. Too the author did not make the technology the sole focus of the novel and that kept the human aspect in mind. I liked also that I could connect this book with a few other works of literature.
In my opinion this book was interesting. It was probably my favorite so far in that it did have the element of technology that kept my imagination turning but also had fascinating situations. Too the author did not make the technology the sole focus of the novel and that kept the human aspect in mind. I liked also that I could connect this book with a few other works of literature.
Anthem
"The Breath of Gaea" by Josephine Walls
I would like to analyze the "glass box" discussed with the World Council of Scholars on pages 70-77. While in reality the glass box is no more than a light bulb to us the reader, to the people that reside in the world and time of Equality 7-2521 the glass box is very dangerous. The box symbolises everything that Equality 7-2521 has done up to that point in the novel. It is the "inner glow" that people with imagination, and pride have. Equality 7-2521's box that glows with "fire" is Ayn Rand's way of showing the inner glow that Equality 7-2521 is and has been experiencing. The fact that it is glass shows how easily seen an individual can be. This glass casing over something different, something imaginative- over the glow within, is a mirror of Equality 7-2521. Always his teachers noted that he was different, and thereby easily read as I stated.
"I understood the blessed thing which I had called my curse. I understood why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins. I understood that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth within him." (Rand 98)
I particularly found this passage interesting in that Equality 7-2521 finally accepted what could not be accepted by society. I felt that in this passage was placed at a point in the novel where understanding and justification was necessary. Not only did Equality 7-2521 find what he wanted but in this passage Rand gives her readers a message within a message. She is showing people clearly that there is a reason for all, and eventually one will figure out why and when that happens.
I really found The Golden One's name choice interesting. "Gaea" or "Gaia" is a Greek Goddess said to be the daughter of Chaos. She was the mother of everything you see, "Mother Earth" as she is often referred to today. It is also said that the only thing that meant more to her than her children were the "rebels" even those that rebelled against her many "godlike" children (many of them actually were Greek Gods) were favored by here simply for the rebellion within them. Overall i really liked this book, the reference to Greek Mythology at the end was by far the best part, but that could be because I am beginning to lose interest in the Dystopia aspect of the novels we have been reading. I thought that Rand stayed in character with a skill I only wish I had when it comes to writing. However, I personally did not think this was the best work I have read by her.
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