Topic C
I believe that this novel warns our society about being stagnant and not being open to change. The social attributes that lend to conclusion was the context of when the novel was written and where. Zamyatin lived in Russia and this book was written right at the time of the Bolshavic Revolution. The pressures of changing and some of not wanting change influenced his to write a book about how important change is for a healthy and working society. The lack of change or stagnant behavior really takes a toll on its civilians. I believe that the need for change is an inate human charactersitic. Without change, life becomes monotonus and boring. We crave new experience and new behaviors and feelings. When those inate wants are taken from us, it will turn a society into a rebellious state. In regards to D-503, a stagnant life was all he had ever known so it didn't bother him until he met I-330. She embrances change and shows D a life when change is possible. After he sees how change affects him, he can't go back to before. This need for change in his life is called a "soul" by many and is also see as a sickness. I think the authors vision is very believable. His goal is to educate people that a change is society is not a bad thing and almost needed for a healthy society.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
We; Journal #2
Topic A:
"What's the problem? What, a soul? A soul, you say? Damn it! We'll soon get as far as cholera. I told you" -the skinny one was horn-tossed again- "I told you, we must, every one's imagination- every one's imagination must be. . . excised. The only answer is surgery, surgery alone. . ." (80)
I believe this passage really shows what the One State is all about. D-503 is having dreams, which is unheard of for anyone in the One State. He is starting to see people differently and feel thing differently, which is terrible for the One State. The goal of the One State is to have no individuals and everyone think and feel the same way. The goal is to suppress the imagination of the people of One State and make them believe that having a "soul" is a serious illness. Which they succeed at because D-503 is at the doctors asking for medical help for his dreams. The One State also believes that once a cipher starts having an imagination that the only way to cure it is surgery. The surgery the perform on the ciphers is very similar to a lobotomy which ones frontal lobe is removed thus your personality is removed. The One State believes that similarity is right and individuality is wrong.
Sorry for it being late! Mono makes me pretty tired. I can't afford to miss school, but by the end of the day I'm completely exhausted and all I want to do is sleep.
"What's the problem? What, a soul? A soul, you say? Damn it! We'll soon get as far as cholera. I told you" -the skinny one was horn-tossed again- "I told you, we must, every one's imagination- every one's imagination must be. . . excised. The only answer is surgery, surgery alone. . ." (80)
I believe this passage really shows what the One State is all about. D-503 is having dreams, which is unheard of for anyone in the One State. He is starting to see people differently and feel thing differently, which is terrible for the One State. The goal of the One State is to have no individuals and everyone think and feel the same way. The goal is to suppress the imagination of the people of One State and make them believe that having a "soul" is a serious illness. Which they succeed at because D-503 is at the doctors asking for medical help for his dreams. The One State also believes that once a cipher starts having an imagination that the only way to cure it is surgery. The surgery the perform on the ciphers is very similar to a lobotomy which ones frontal lobe is removed thus your personality is removed. The One State believes that similarity is right and individuality is wrong.
Sorry for it being late! Mono makes me pretty tired. I can't afford to miss school, but by the end of the day I'm completely exhausted and all I want to do is sleep.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
We; Journal #1
Topic B:
The character that I decided to write about was I-330. She is a cipher just like D-503. I think she is a more free spirited and tries to be her own person and in a society like One State that really stands out. I believe that as the book progresses that she will become more outwardly rebellious than she already is. But still the people of One State like her. There was a part where I-330 takes D-503 to the Ancient House. She was sort of breaking one state rules by asking him to stay with her there. When D-503 decided to go to the Guardians about what had happened, they responded with, "I-330? Good for you. A very interesting and talented women. She has many admirers." I find it really interesting that they responded that way because even know what they did was supposedly bad, the still liked I-330. There hasn't really been a huge conflict yet but I feel like as the book progresses that there will be a large conflict with I-330 and the society. So far, she seems to have a good relationship with D-503 but I feel like it will turn into a sexual relationship. This sexual relationship between the two is what might drive D-503 to act differently and break more rules of the One State. I feel that at this time, I-330 struggles with the rules and the control of her society. She doesn't feel like she was mad under those rules and has a rebellious streak. And this could get her in trouble down the road.
The character that I decided to write about was I-330. She is a cipher just like D-503. I think she is a more free spirited and tries to be her own person and in a society like One State that really stands out. I believe that as the book progresses that she will become more outwardly rebellious than she already is. But still the people of One State like her. There was a part where I-330 takes D-503 to the Ancient House. She was sort of breaking one state rules by asking him to stay with her there. When D-503 decided to go to the Guardians about what had happened, they responded with, "I-330? Good for you. A very interesting and talented women. She has many admirers." I find it really interesting that they responded that way because even know what they did was supposedly bad, the still liked I-330. There hasn't really been a huge conflict yet but I feel like as the book progresses that there will be a large conflict with I-330 and the society. So far, she seems to have a good relationship with D-503 but I feel like it will turn into a sexual relationship. This sexual relationship between the two is what might drive D-503 to act differently and break more rules of the One State. I feel that at this time, I-330 struggles with the rules and the control of her society. She doesn't feel like she was mad under those rules and has a rebellious streak. And this could get her in trouble down the road.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thesis!
In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses parallelism in both parts of the novel to show Meursault's clear emotional disconnect towards death. This illuminates the fact that death can cause one to become indifferent to the people and thing around him.
Journal #8
Personally, I hated this book. I didn't feel a connection to the character in any way and that made it really painful to read. The short and choppy sentences made it really awkward to read aswell. To me, it seems like a pointless book that ultimatly teaches you nothing. I literally dreaded picking it up and starting in on a new chapter. This book was also really hard to analyze. It left so many loose ends that you had to guess what Camus was actually trying to say. I'm a little confused as to why this book is so important to be teaching in schools. Yes he may be a great author but this book is lame. And on top of all of this, the plot is depressing. So on a scale from TERRIBLE-BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ I give it a pretty darn bad.
Journal #7
Topic: Parallelism between Mersault's reaction to death in the first and second part. Does death make him emotionally disconnected?
"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe is was yesterday." (3)
"Everybody felt sorry for me and Celeste said, 'You only have one mother.' When I left, they walked me to the door because I was a little distracted [...] He lost his uncle a few months back." (4)
"The director spoke to me again. But I wasn't really listening anymore. Then he said, 'I suppose you'd like to see your mother.' I got up without saying anything and he led the was to the door." (5)
"It surprised me, because I didn't know who she was. I wished I didn't have to listen to her anymore." (10)
"The undertaker's men arrived a few minutes ago. I'm going to ask them to seal the casket. Before I do, would you like to see your mother one last time? I said no." (13)
"I don't know why we waited so long before getting under way. I was hot in my dark clothes." (15)
"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe is was yesterday." (3)
"Everybody felt sorry for me and Celeste said, 'You only have one mother.' When I left, they walked me to the door because I was a little distracted [...] He lost his uncle a few months back." (4)
"The director spoke to me again. But I wasn't really listening anymore. Then he said, 'I suppose you'd like to see your mother.' I got up without saying anything and he led the was to the door." (5)
"It surprised me, because I didn't know who she was. I wished I didn't have to listen to her anymore." (10)
"The undertaker's men arrived a few minutes ago. I'm going to ask them to seal the casket. Before I do, would you like to see your mother one last time? I said no." (13)
"I don't know why we waited so long before getting under way. I was hot in my dark clothes." (15)
Journal #6
Does Camus create Mersault to be "emotionless" because of his mother's death, or does he imply that Meursault has always been like this?
Does Camus description of a humans "innate" characteristics (sleeping, sex, eating etc.) show the need for physical reassurance in everyday life?
How old does Camus want Meursault to be portrayed?
Does routine play an important role in Meursault's life? If yes, how?
Why does Camus use such short and choppy sentences in his writing? How does this connect to a theme?
ANSWERS!
Anthony Nguyen: #1
I also agree with Sean. Sun/light has been turned into things he wishes not to see. I believe that in order for anything to be real, Meursault has to physically see them. But in these cases, the sun/light/heat may be present because he knows that they are real, but he refuses to own up to the truth of it? If that makes sense.
Maddie Black: #1
I have been wondering the same thing. I think that maybe he gets upset when people show emotion because at that point in his life he is so disconnected from it all together. Although it doesn't appear that way, his mother's death took a tole on him and he has distanced himself from anything that might cause him pain.
Jarrad Schulte: #5
The reason Camus uses simple colors is to keep the complexity of the description down. When Meursault describes things (which is semi rare!), Camus wants to make sure that we as the readers really understand what he means.
Ivan K: #3
Camus shows Meursault with more emotion in the court because M. is battling with the fact that his life is meaningless. This is what makes me believe that M. was not always emotionally disconnected but that these attitudes were brought on by the death of his mother.
Tanner Bean: #1
Camus makes Meursault dependant on the physical to act as a foil. This shows how the other characters care about more important emotional things.
Does Camus description of a humans "innate" characteristics (sleeping, sex, eating etc.) show the need for physical reassurance in everyday life?
How old does Camus want Meursault to be portrayed?
Does routine play an important role in Meursault's life? If yes, how?
Why does Camus use such short and choppy sentences in his writing? How does this connect to a theme?
ANSWERS!
Anthony Nguyen: #1
I also agree with Sean. Sun/light has been turned into things he wishes not to see. I believe that in order for anything to be real, Meursault has to physically see them. But in these cases, the sun/light/heat may be present because he knows that they are real, but he refuses to own up to the truth of it? If that makes sense.
Maddie Black: #1
I have been wondering the same thing. I think that maybe he gets upset when people show emotion because at that point in his life he is so disconnected from it all together. Although it doesn't appear that way, his mother's death took a tole on him and he has distanced himself from anything that might cause him pain.
Jarrad Schulte: #5
The reason Camus uses simple colors is to keep the complexity of the description down. When Meursault describes things (which is semi rare!), Camus wants to make sure that we as the readers really understand what he means.
Ivan K: #3
Camus shows Meursault with more emotion in the court because M. is battling with the fact that his life is meaningless. This is what makes me believe that M. was not always emotionally disconnected but that these attitudes were brought on by the death of his mother.
Tanner Bean: #1
Camus makes Meursault dependant on the physical to act as a foil. This shows how the other characters care about more important emotional things.
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