Comrades, Let Us Praise Big Brother!

Comrades, let me ask, why am I here today? What do I represent to do with your goodthinking? Are the principles of good and ungood in the Dec of Ind to all comrades? And am I to speak our good to the comrades, and to plusspeak our plusgood, and doubleplusspeak our doubleplusgood given by Big Brother?

Would to Big Brother, for comrade’s sakes and ours, that the unblackwhite could answer questions. Then the bellyfeel would be easy. For what comrade does not duckspeak? For what comrade is so ungood that one would not see the good in Big Brother? For what comrade is so duckspeakwise ungood that one would not give his voice to speak doubleplusgood of Big Brother? I am not that comrade. In a case like that, the ungood comrade should free their facecrime and thoughtcrime.

But this is not the report. I say it with a ungood sense of a gap between comrades. I will not duckspeak against our glorious Big Brother! Your high ind only demonstrates the doubleplusbig gap between us. The crimethink in which you crimethinkers act upon are not good to other comrades. The full praise of ungood, plusungood, doubleplusungood, and ind passwise down by your fathers is shared by you, not by me other comrades. This Fort of Ju is yours, doubleplusungood comrade, not mine. You may show unbellyfeel, I must show bellyfeel. To drag a comrade into the doubleplusungood act of crimethink, and call upon him to join you in doubleplusungood acts, were incomrade ungood and doubleplusungood. Do you mean, comrades, to crimethink, by asking me to speak today? If so, there is more doubleplusungood to your acts than once thought. And let me say to you, that it is ungood to copy the example of a nation (Eurasia) whose crimethinks, building up tall, were shut down by the act of the Big Brother, burying that nation in doubleplusungood ruin.

 Original Speech: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/douglass.htm

•• The Prized Drawing ••

"The Lottery", written by Shirley Jackson, is a short story that offers much insight on the role of tradition and it's impact on our lives.

"The Lottery" tells of a place where villagers gather together to draw a slip of paper from a wooden box. On just one slip of paper there is a black dot. The black dot has chosen whom to claim its victim - Mrs. Hutchinson. As she begs for the villagers understanding little kids and adults all around grip on to their stones and begin to throw them with all of their power towards her. It is instantly forgotten that she is a mother, a friend, and a wife, and as soon as that black dot claimed it's prize it was each man for himself. The story closes with the villagers attacking Mrs. Hutchinson.

The story demonstrates the immense power that time has over human beings. It is never made clear exactly why this is a tradition for the village to continue, but for some reason as the people gather around they immediately grab their stones and manually get ready to stone the chosen one. This is a great example of how over time, traditions change and people forget the true meaning behind the tradition. It becomes something of a habit, rather than something of purpose.

"The Lottery" presents the idea that perspectives of right and wrong can be skewed by our individual experiences. Each society is different. The rituals one place has could be polar opposites of another place. It is easily forgotten that our surroundings influence us in a multitude of ways. As an outsider reading this short story, I was in shock. I questioned how parents could encourage their children to search for the biggest stone possible to throw at another human being. That is exactly the beauty of this story, though. Jackson forces readers to recognize the difference between the readers ideals and the villagers (in the story) ideals. To each individual in the story, the lottery means something different. We are each a pair of eyes and one brain. Our beliefs have been skewed by the environment around us just as much as the next persons.

Several different characters are presented throughout the short story and each has a different perspective on the tradition. Old Man Warner, for example, encourages the tradition. At first it is easy to think of this man in negative way. We wonder how one man can encourage a tradition that forces an innocent mother being stoned to death based off of a drawing of a slip of paper? After searching farther than beyond the words on th
e paper, however, it becomes clear that Old Man Warner is simply afraid of change.  For many people taking chances and searching the unknown is a frightening task. perhaps Old Man Warner does like the lottery tradition, but by questioning the lottery one is questioning who he is and what he has known all of his life. This circles back around to the idea that our experiences make us who we are. Without the lottery, who is Old Man Warner?

While reading "The Lottery" I was questioning the value of tradition. For each individual it is different. For some, the purpose of tradition is only to be fair. If a man died last year from being stoned to death then a man should die this year, right? For others, the purpose of tradition is to live with the comfort of something familiar. "The Lottery" emphasizes the idea of what an individual places values on and what a society places values on. Are you questioning what you believe yet?

Strolling Through Impressionism

An exhale leaves a thick cloud consisting of droplets of water and the cold air that surrounds it. Grays and yellows mixed together pondering their ability to light up the sidewalks and benches for man to take a stroll. Perhaps a calming stride to gather thoughts and ideas about the blurry attitudes of mankind still asleep in their houses and tucked in their beds. Serenity passes through the shady green blobs of grass, of trees, and of bushes. Surrounded by crossed lines between nature and mankind. The soft breeze chilly enough to make muscles tense and jaws clench. Man can't help but tighten his grip on the hard leash seemingly frozen to his hand. The dog so absorbed in his daily routine that he doesn't seem to feel the same shiver that man feels. The chill passing by seems much more contagious to the human race than to canine. The dog sways side to side deciding which strand of dead grass to sniff a part. Which strand shall be the chosen one for the dogs triumphant act of passing water. The sounds muffled by the cloth covering the mans ears for protection against the cold air passing by. The chirping of the birds, the barking of the dogs, the conversations of the people all deadened by the lack of energy gained through a full night's sleep. Early in the morning, the sun not quite awake yet, the man strolls deciphering his thoughts, the dog sways deciphering his grass, as the grays and yellows brighten deciphering the sidewalk from the benches.

My Colonial Experience

I recently took a voyage across the sea. I landed on a territory where I was instructed to bring back a profit of resources. My team mates and I made it. We survived the erratic weather conditions, and the hostility from the natives. We were able to get in, get the job done, and get out. Not only did we survive, but we made it home with a surplus of resource- meaning profit for all.

When we first landed, we were obligated to pick how we would approach the natives. When we first stepped off the ship we had to decide w
hether we wanted to build our relationship based off of love, or aggression. After a long debate, we unanimously decided to use force. If we wanted to gain respect from the natives, we needed to first receive all the resources we possibly could. From then on, we decided to also show them we care about them, and that we weren't total monsters.
I recently took a voyage across the sea. I landed on an island where I was instructed to bring back a profit of resources. My team mates and I made it. We survived the erratic weather conditions, and the hostility from the natives. We were able to get in, get the job done, and get out. Not only did we survive, but we made it home with a surplus of resource- meaning profit for all.

When we first landed, we were obligated to pick how we would approach the natives. When we first stepped off the ship we had to decide whether we wanted to build our relationship based off of love, or aggression. After a long debate, we unanimously decided to use force. If we wanted to gain respect from the natives, we needed to first receive all the resources we possibly could. From then on, we decided to also show them we care about them, and that we weren't total monsters.

Many factors influenced my groups decision to switch back and forth between being peaceful (and not taking action against the natives to gain resources) and using force to gain resources rather than continuously using force against the natives. Our first decision to use force to begin with a surplus of recourses affected our next decision. We decided to be kind and show our gentle side. From then on we switched back and forth from being aggressive and being kind. Violence was necessary to make a profit, but gentleness was also necessary for survival. We couldn't have natives trying to kill us or sabotage our resources could we?

The most important question we kept in the back of our minds was "do we have a profit at this point in time?" If the answer was no, then that would be the reason we would use force. If the answer to our question was yes, then there would not be a reason to be forceful, and we would present our peaceful side to the natives. We kept a surplus so that environmental conditions would not put us in debt. If we were ever running low on resources we would choose to be a bit violent.

I feel confident we made all of the right moves and choices.


So now back to reality. Was the game a realistic reflection of colonialism? Certain aspects of the game we played in lit class were realistic, but not all. Having to decide when to use violence was one of the more realistic aspects of the game. When living a colonial experience violence is necessary whether we like it or not. Another realistic aspect was having to deal with environmental conditions. The spontaneous card picking accurately represented the random and unpredictable weather changes.

I am hesitant on whether the goodwill or hostility card picking was a realistic representation, however. It does not seem likely that after using the amount of force on the natives that we used, they would still be relatively happy with us.

This game forced me to understand that even though I despise violence, it is necessary for colonization. No matter how much I hoped for a peaceful game, I was forced to use violence in order to survive, but mainly to gain profit.

Many factors influenced my groups decision to switch back and forth between being peaceful (and not taking action against the natives to gain resources) and using force to gain resources rather than continuously using force against the natives. Our first decision to use force to begin with a surplus of recourses affected our next decision. We decided to be kind and show our gentle side. From then on we switched back and forth from being aggressive and being kind. Violence was necessary to make a profit, but gentleness was also necessary for survival. We couldn't have natives trying to kill us or sabotage our resources could we?

The most important question we kept in the back of our minds was "do we have a profit at this point in time?" If the answer was no, then that would be the reason we would use force. If the answer to our question was yes, then there would not be a reason to be forceful, and we would present our peaceful side to the natives. We kept a surplus so that environmental conditions would not put us in debt. If we were ever running low on resources we would choose to be a bit violent.

I feel confident we made all of the right moves and choices.

So now back to reality. Was the game a realistic reflection of colonialism? Certain aspects of the game we played in lit class were realistic, but not all. Having to decide when to use violence was one of the more realistic aspects of the game. When living a colonial experience violence is necessary whether we like it or not. Another realistic aspect was having to deal with environmental conditions. The spontaneous card picking accurately represented the random and unpredictable weather changes.

I am hesitant on whether the goodwill or hostility card picking was a realistic representation, however. It does not seem likely that after using the amount of force on the natives that we used, they would still be relatively happy with us.

This game forced me to understand that even though I despise violence, it is necessary for colonization. No matter how much I hoped for a peaceful game, I was forced to use violence in order to survive, but mainly to gain profit.

Anagnorisis..a critical discovery or a tragic epiphany?

     In Macbeth's case, I think it's safe to say he experienced a tragic epiphany. As he draws his sword and fights for all one is worth, Macbeth feels he is invincible thanks to the Witches prophesy. They planted a thought in his head that "no man born of woman" would be able to harm him. His ignorance is highlighted as he lets this information be the indicator for every decision he makes from that moment on.

     Anagnorisis is best defined as a critical discovery or a tragic epiphany. The word "critical" in this case definitely has a negative connotation behind it. The critical discovery that a character may go through could also be considered a grave discovery. Anagnorisis, on the other hand, is when a character recognizes that the situation he has found himself in has the potential to become disastrous. The unfortunate epiphany, or grave discovery, Macbeth is forced to come to terms with is that he is not as invincible as he had originally thought. Macbeth experiences anagnorisis when Macduff declares that he was not born of woman, but "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb... Yikes. Didn't see that one coming did you, Macbeth?


     Death seems inevitable at this point for our long lost hero, the thane of Cawdor. He lost his way the minute he ran into the Witches. As they spilled the prophesy to Macbeth, he listened with both ears fixated on the few details that declared him to be king one day. Throughout the entire play Macbeth seems to be stuck in a daze. He is so preoccupied with becoming King that he begins to believe he is invincible. He hears the few statements that declare his glory, and ignores all the other. This daze that Macbeth is stuck in is what makes this anagnorisis so defined.

     The discovery, or anagnorisis, that Macbeth experiences has a great impact on the play as a whole. This discovery emphasizes the lesson to be taught throughout the play. Ignorance is shown not to be bliss in Macbeth's case. The audience constantly finds themselves hitting their hands to their heads when Macbeth continues to overlook the blatant signs of ultimate destruction; and a quick one at that. The audience watches as Macbeth, himself, finally begins to understand that he is in a disastrous situation. It becomes obvious that he knew deep down, that the Witches prophesy was too good to be true. The brisk realization of ultimate destruction is destruction from several different angles. Not only is the destruction of his power inevitable, but so is his royalty, as well as himself.

      I think it is safe to say that with ignorance comes anagnorisis. If one was wise enough to listen and learn from situations that occur throughout ones life, that person would be more likely to avoid the unfortunate experience of critical discovery. Macbeth's character is shown to make ignorant decisions throughout the entire play. From letting his wife boss him around, to killing King Duncan with his bare hands, to killing Macduff's family, Macbeth was bound to reach a point of anagnorisis. If only he had realized sooner....maybe he could have kept his head.

Hamartia...Accidental wrongdoing, or just plain ignorance?

     The term hamartia is best known as "missing the mark", but it's meaning goes so much further than that. In movies and novels the author does a great job at making it clear when the main character has gone a bit too far. We are sitting in our chairs shaking our heads at the obvious mistake the character has made, or we are biting our nails because we know what tragic end that a certain moment is going to lead our character on a downward spiral. The important thing about hamartia is that it is not just one precise moment within the story. Often times there are several small acts of "missing the mark" that eventually leads to a big missing of the mark and causes the character to head towards the inevitable downfall.
   
     Hamartia can be both subtle, or not so subtle to it's audience members. Shakespeare is known for his incredible tragedies and stories that force his audiences to consider jumping out of their seats to grab the character by the head and physically shake some sense into them. This is so in the case of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as Julius Caesar. I'd like to focus in on the story of Julius Caesar and highlight just a few of the obvious acts of hamartia performed by the plays tragic hero, Brutus.

     Brutus, from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, is an important character who most definitely performs acts of hamartia. Throughout the history of literature, with power comes envy, jealousy, and mad schemes to shift the power from one person to another. This is exactly so in the case of Brutus. From the beginning of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare demonstrates Brutus's desire for the power that is supposedly meant for Julius. Brutus completes many covetous acts in which the audience can undermine as "missing the mark."

     Brutus seems infantile when he allows little things to persuade him towards inhumane acts. For example, when Brutus found letters in his room he lets this convince him that he needs to dispose of Caesar as the ruler of Rome. What makes the readers shake their heads at this point is that it is so blatantly obvious that these letters have been planted in his room. Brutus allows himself to get easily caught up in the conspiracy against Caesar and gives up the the idea that perhaps Caesar could be a good leader of Rome.

Another time that Brutus performs an act of hamartia is when he decides to speak at Caesar's funeral. Brutus claims to have loved Caesar, but can one who is willing to kill a friend, possibly love that friend? Brutus pushes too far when he declares he loved Caesar. Brutus continues to make a fool of himself when he declares that his love for Rome is greater than anything else. This is the point in the story when the audience realizes there is no hope for Brutus. I don't know about you, but I would not want to live under the power of someone who is willing to kill someone he "loved" just to gain power.... This seems like some obvious hamartia in my eyes.

Marked For Greatness

     Thomas C. Foster begins chapter 21, Marked for Greatness, by pointing out the importance of symbolism. A previous chapter, chapter 12, discussed symbolism in detail. In that chapter I was able to understand how wide of a range symbolism can pull from. An example Foster used to open chapter 21 was the idea of scoliosis. If an author goes out of his way to give a character scoliosis, there is most likely a reason, right? To give a character a defect, so to say, is not a simple task. Any detail an author gives about a character in chapter 2 he must remember in chapter 32 as well. By giving a character a scar, or a wound, the author is immediately pointing out that this character is different from the rest of the world. This should be our first clue towards the fact that he's probably marked for some sort of greatness. Why else would this random person have a random fact about him worth mentioning?
     It is important to keep in mind that scars or physical defects are not the only things that can be used to mark a character for greatness. In the novel, The Bean Trees, for example, the main character has witnessed a tragic incident that has scarred her for the rest of her life. Taylor, the main character, feels connected to a peer of hers named Newt, because she feels neither of them fit in. Newt's father died while Taylor and Newt were both in high school due to a tractor tire that exploded while the father was using it. Ever since that day Taylor has been frightened by tires. As she reaches the age that she can go out on her own, she decides to search for a new home. Somewhere along the way, a baby has been abandoned and Taylor ends up taking care of the little girl, whom she later names Turtle. Taylor notices that Turtle has been abused as a baby and decides to take care of Turtle and nurse her back to health. With this little information I have mentioned, we are immediately able to spot different things that leave Taylor as "marked for greatness." First of all, she is scared of tires but still decides to go on a road trip in her car to search for a new home. One day she was driving and her tire busted out of no where. She decides to pull over at a tire shop in Taylorville where she meets a lovely lady named Mattie. Mattie helps Taylor raise Turtle and also provides Taylor with a job at the tire shop. The fact that she was scared of tires but was able to get past that fear and help raise a baby is incredible. This implies that perhaps she will be able to help Turtle move on from being abused as a baby. Straight from the beginning we are able to see Taylor is marked for greatness through the story of Newt and his father. Every event in The Bean Trees could be marked down as symbolism for one reason or another. Thomas Foster did a great job of explaining how an author uses symbolism for marking a character with greatness.