The lit Blog

[itsthetonyle-blog]

The Road: B vs F

The road: book vs the film

After seeing the film for the first time and finishing up the book, to me the film did not fully capture the emotions and what the book was able to present and depict. The film seemed to not be able to fully capture the boy’s personality and the epic duo’s journey through out the wasteland. Although one thing, after finding out the fathers name was Eli, it instantly brought me to think about the film “the book of Eli” and how the two post-apocalyptic movies compare to the books that they were adapted from. The film itself was great and was able to depict the struggle of the father and the boy to survive and the fact that the wasteland was a cruel place that left no mercy on anyone. The film did a decent job on details from the book but did not fully present the plethora of details and emotions that the book was able to do. This goes to show no matter how great a movie can be, not all of the tiny details can be fully capture within a film version of the book. Back to the Book of Eli vs the road, the book of Eli is similar to the road in a couple aspects. In the book of Eli, Eli is in possession of a bible which is his sole force that is driving him throughout the book, he closely guards the book and it is a very important figure to him in the post-apocalyptic world, similarly The boy in the road is representative of the same figure to the father, hence the boy is the fathers main driving force of which he guards with his life and Eli guarding the bible with his life against the evil forces of the world.    

[itsthetonyle-blog]

I really enjoyed the reading the road and what it entails. the post apocalyptic theme and the plot of a man and his boy is very similar to the post apocalyptic game based on a nuclear war called “ fallout” both pit the survivors against groups of bandits and seemly adds that typical run of the mill “bad” guy outlook on these raiders, and gangs whom are scavenging as a means of survival. this got me thinking about how many movies and games such as fallout don’t really seem to portray the raiders or bad guys as people whom have a separate life that lead them up to that moment, we typically see the hero of the story have short interaction with these men and they are always short lived. It never seems to occur to the audience that these men who are most of the time quickly anguished by the main characters of the plot. Raiders... are men who could have family or wife and kid that they are attempting to care for and they are barely trying to survive through the apocalyptic wasteland and maybe the raider had no other choice than to join the gang or all of his life moments leading up to his path crossing the main characters. This book really drew me in with its post apocalyptic theme and was really enticing because of the fact that we get to paint this image of humanity on the brink of extinction and how society has adapted to the needs of this post apocalyptic world.

[jeffery-williams]

The Road

The Road is a very interesting book to me and is a nice change of pace from our other books.  The book does in some ways remind me of The Walking Dead in the way of a father trying to protect his sons innocence and also Mad Max before everything was just desert.  My favorite thing about this book is the basis of the story, just a father and son against the world.  This is something that I can relate to as my father was the one that raised me and also felt like it was us two against the world.  

[notericclapton-blog]

I enjoyed the book for a few similar reasons. I couldn’t help thinking about “The Walking Dead” every 10 pages or so, but the story itself is really similar to a series of books I read by Stephen King called “Dark Tower”. It’s about a band of a few people travelling through the world after it has suffered some crazy event too. The themes differ between these stories, but the overall setting is very similar. I think “The Road” has been my favorite book that we have read in class so far, just because it’s a totally different change of pace from the other stories we have read. 

[itsthetonyle-blog]

Half empty? or half full?

The ending made me wonder if the historian was speaking of an interesting time in North America which is no more...or if they spoke of a rebellious age in the existing Republic of Gilead.  and then even the ending has two possibilities, with  two mini-endings going on. In the first, which closes off the narrator's story, the heroine gets into a black car with men who are either there to arrest her for treason or to smuggle her to safety. Offred’s story ends abruptly and uncertainly, which illustrates the precarious nature of existence in a totalitarian society in which everyone stands constantly poised on the edge of arrest and execution.  Overall the book was very intriguing and was an eye opener to the fact that society has come to a point where we must realize that these social injustices must never become a reality, and that we must be conscious of what we are doing and what outcomes will stem off of our ideas that sound good on paper but in reality do not seem practical. 

[trapdaddytrev-blog]

Handmaids tale part two

After reading chapter 34 it’s the first thing out of the whole book that actually relates to real life, In my opinion anyway. When the commander is talking about how bad things used to be is what is really happening in our time now. He said that its so much better now that they have changed to the way they do things now. I’d have to agree with him oh how bad things used to be but I also don’t think that they way the live is anywhere near how it should be. After all we are living in a world made plastic.

[itsthetonyle-blog]

It’s crazy to think about how much we depend upon our technology and how much of an impact it creates upon our society and the way we carry on our lives. It is scary to accept the fact we are so susceptible to technology today allowing it to manipulate us into thinking and mending our ideas towards a generic unison. The fact of the matter is we are straying away from our origins and living in a weird situation because of the fact that we are in the midst of a millennial change and our views are different from the past, but this is not always bad, we have become more accepting of others and aware that not everyone is completely different from us. We have come a long way upon acceptance in society, yet that is not to say we still have long barriers to overcome and a lot of ignorance to overcome to be where we need to be as a society.

[trapdaddytrev-blog]

Handmaids tale part two

After reading chapter 34 it’s the first thing out of the whole book that actually relates to real life, In my opinion anyway. When the commander is talking about how bad things used to be is what is really happening in our time now. He said that its so much better now that they have changed to the way they do things now. I’d have to agree with him oh how bad things used to be but I also don’t think that they way the live is anywhere near how it should be. After all we are living in a world made plastic.

[itsthetonyle-blog]

Male Sterility

Its interesting that in the society that Offred lives in believes that the only factor for fertility lies within the female and that the male is assumed to always be fertile and able to reproduce. The circumstance is really relate-able because in other countries in Asia and over seas, many times the female is regarded as the problem for not being able to reproduce and that it is the males right to be able to inherit a child. Many times when a girl is born first, the female is looked down upon and blamed for the fact that it was not a boy.  This is very eerily similar to the situation of Offred and how similar these two situations are is stunning . The females are often regarded as lower status and not equal to the male. 

[joshhoey94]

This book is getting more and more interesting as I become more open to what the author means to say. It takes me a few times to read the same line over and over again, but I realized that there is so many biblical examples thrown into the text that can be easily ignored and just viewed as a creation of the author. “Guardians of the Faith, Commanders of the Faithful, Angels, Eyes of the Lord,” they all refer to the army, members of the police force, and men’s roles in society. It is named the Republic of Gilead which is in reference to the books of Genesis, Jeremiah, and Job. Martha refers to the sister of Mary that was serving Jesus instead than listening to his teachings. I could go on and on, but the jist of it is Atwood incorporated so many biblical references within the text that could be easily passed by without taking a closer look. Deuces Lit class.

[juliestudent0809-blog]

Hey now

Spoiler if you haven’t gotten to chapter 18.

So what is up with this Nick guy? He was mentioned a few times in the beginning chapters (he is an angel isn’t he? I honestly have a difficult time keeping up with the caste system in this book.) Well in the beginning of the book he winks at the main character. That act within itself is forbidden and deserving of hell right? No man should ever look at a women with interest other than to procreate am I right? Well at least that is how it is in this book. But now Nick is making out with her in the sitting room!!!??!! “I’ve come looking for you” he says, “the Commander wants to see you tomorrow” he says. But I’m pretty sure that the commander didn’t ask for Nick to make out and lust for his Handmaid,…. that is, unless he did…. Im kind of catching a soap opera vibe from this book every now and then. Obviously this Nick guy, and what about the lustful Doctor? He offered to impregnate her!!! I can’t even wrap my head around this society. This book is suppose to be written based off events that have already happened…. I think I’ve been overlooking some things…. 

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Exactly! I don’t understand him. I get the feeling like its foreshadowing something else. Like, as if he’s an undercover person trying to break offred. You know… Get her to crack and then she will get sent away or worse. The doctor freaked me out. How can you stay calm with someone acting the way he was. The urgency in his dialogue and the creepy, secretive way of it all. How does he manage to get away with it? You would think they would have a nurse or something in the room to act as a mediator to spy on any strange activity. I feel for offred. She doesn’t even know what happened to her own child. I’m not happy about the affair think with Luke (I’m extremely against any sort of cheating) but at the same time i hope she gets to see him again. Love is love. #3-8-16

[christopherthewinsomer-blog]

Offred ... Off-Red ... "Off" + "Red" | Ramblings from "The Handmaid's Tale"

There’s a lot that has transpired between chapters 10-18. We’ve finally discovered the main characters name…Offred. However, when I take a closer look at her name, I couldn’t help but to break it up into two parts: “Off” and “Red”. Currently, we knew she could not conceive from her previously assigned Commander (although, this could have been from his sterility, even though any form of infertility was placed as the woman’s fault), however, it seems as though something may be awry. Her garments exude the color of fertility: red. Do you consider that Atwood waited to reveal her name as a point of foreshadowing? We’ll have to wait and see.

We witnessed Offred being propositioned by her doctor for sex, since he knows that women of the red habits mostly want one thing: children. He speaks against the men and their possible sterility. He knows he has an upper-hand, since these women only have one purpose: to bear children. Without them, there existence is unnecessary.

So far, we’ve encountered Moira, who was Offred'a friend prior to the change. She’s is a rebellious as she was prior to adorning the red habit.

Then, there’s Nick. The rebellious guard whom Offred has begun to lust after. We all smell the trouble there, so it’ll be interesting to see how that story unfolds.

Last, but not least, we witness the act in which Offred’s soul purpose orbits around. Impregnation by the Commander. However, she must lay her upper torso upon the Commander’s wife’s body, as though to “be as on”, while The Commander proceeds to copulate with Offred. Everything seems so distant and vaguely barbaric.

Dammit, Atwood, what else are you going to throw at us now?

[lolollit-blog]

Living in a dystopian society, it’s interesting trying to pinpoint which ones of us (the majority) would stand by and do nothing, and who would become our real-life heroes and swim against the flow of the river by breaking the rules or attempting to make a difference. Of course we like to think that we individually would do something, but when taking into account the lifestyle and brainwashing that the characters of the stories of this main theme we’ve been studying have been either raised into so that it is all they know; it is their normal, or have been subjected to for consecutive years and becomes all they know, we can conclude that we, as we know ourselves to be, would be altered ethically and become irrevocably alternative beings.

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

I really believe that I would be a rebel, maybe like Winston - a little reluctant at first, but then I would own it. I have always been that way and especially about injustice. I have been blessed with an empathetic heart and many of my life experiences have prepared me to stand up for the weak or downtrodden. I think we all have it within us - I just don’t know if we’re all called that way by our life’s journey. I guess the only thing that matters is if we’re called, will we hear? Will we answer? Will we be ready? You always ask such wonderful questions my classmate. It makes my mind go in a million different directions!

[lolollit-blog]

Oh I’m glad you enjoy my efforts! I just think that living in a world like that of Winston’s, we might not be who we think we are in this world. Because we would be raised with different morals and different beliefs. To give an example, some people from other countries, like the reason some of us fear outsiders is because they weren’t raised on the same ethical platform as us, and some of what they do that we would consider immoral, to them it is just a duty or way of life. So it is hard to know who, from our present, would transpire to be the hero of an alternative society.

[kplace100-blog]

I think it is difficult to tell what you would do in a situation until you are actually in it.  Like you say, the majority of people would stand by and do nothing.  If you have ever seen or heard of the show “What Would You Do?” they use actors to test the thoughts and actions of real people to see what they would do in conflicting situations.  Who would step in, how would they do it, if they choose not to, why didn’t they, a number of things like that.  It depends on the situation but while some people step into the situation, most people choose to avoid the conflict.  They ignore what is happening and go on with their business.  This is what I think of when I think of a dystopian society.  It is a society where people no longer care about other people and where the government has the final say in our lives.  It can be difficult to do the right thing sometimes, but I like to think that I would be able to.

[itsthetonyle-blog]

Its really interesting to think about who would stand up and make a difference against an oppressive force.  We tend to see peoples true colors in their everyday actions and witness the sheep and the sheep dog interact with the wolves, many people will witness a problem or situation unveil and they tend to keep to themselves and bypass the responsibility of assisting or getting involved simply because of the fact that they do not want to take on the burden or responsibility for themselves and thus we are able to recognize the people who stand out and throw themselves out to make a difference. These are the people who we see always giving their all to a cause, giving a hand to those in need, and those whom put themselves first in front of all others to make a difference and take a stand for those who cannot do it for themselves. With that its interesting to think that we as a society have become accustom to keeping to ourselves and minding our own business which has brought us all down to a level of fear, a fear of standing up against the crowd and against society because we worry about what is mainstream and being different from the rest of society. We simply have a natural tendency to inhibit a fear of change because of the disruption of our ‘regular’  routines, those who step out and are able to break down these barriers and live their lives to a moral code and hold a life based on ethics will be the heroes we will look up to in a dystopian society. 

[lolollit-blog]

Living in a dystopian society, it’s interesting trying to pinpoint which ones of us (the majority) would stand by and do nothing, and who would become our real-life heroes and swim against the flow of the river by breaking the rules or attempting to make a difference. Of course we like to think that we individually would do something, but when taking into account the lifestyle and brainwashing that the characters of the stories of this main theme we’ve been studying have been either raised into so that it is all they know; it is their normal, or have been subjected to for consecutive years and becomes all they know, we can conclude that we, as we know ourselves to be, would be altered ethically and become irrevocably alternative beings.

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

I really believe that I would be a rebel, maybe like Winston - a little reluctant at first, but then I would own it. I have always been that way and especially about injustice. I have been blessed with an empathetic heart and many of my life experiences have prepared me to stand up for the weak or downtrodden. I think we all have it within us - I just don’t know if we’re all called that way by our life’s journey. I guess the only thing that matters is if we’re called, will we hear? Will we answer? Will we be ready? You always ask such wonderful questions my classmate. It makes my mind go in a million different directions!

[lolollit-blog]

Oh I’m glad you enjoy my efforts! I just think that living in a world like that of Winston’s, we might not be who we think we are in this world. Because we would be raised with different morals and different beliefs. To give an example, some people from other countries, like the reason some of us fear outsiders is because they weren’t raised on the same ethical platform as us, and some of what they do that we would consider immoral, to them it is just a duty or way of life. So it is hard to know who, from our present, would transpire to be the hero of an alternative society.

[kplace100-blog]

I think it is difficult to tell what you would do in a situation until you are actually in it.  Like you say, the majority of people would stand by and do nothing.  If you have ever seen or heard of the show “What Would You Do?” they use actors to test the thoughts and actions of real people to see what they would do in conflicting situations.  Who would step in, how would they do it, if they choose not to, why didn’t they, a number of things like that.  It depends on the situation but while some people step into the situation, most people choose to avoid the conflict.  They ignore what is happening and go on with their business.  This is what I think of when I think of a dystopian society.  It is a society where people no longer care about other people and where the government has the final say in our lives.  It can be difficult to do the right thing sometimes, but I like to think that I would be able to.

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

This Book… I can’t remember for a long time a book quite so scary as 1984. It’s genius in so many ways. I think I could spend months studying the words and ideas written on every page. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to read this for our lit class. 💜💜

[notericclapton-blog]

I think that would be the best way for me to really appreciate this book. Maybe over the next few months analyze specific parts and really dig into what Orwell is trying to tell us. I found it very hard to stay focused on the book trying to read it straight through. However, now that I know what the book entails, maybe going back and re-reading certain sections just one piece at a time will give me a better appreciation for it. 

[kplace100-blog]

This novel, “1984″, is interesting to me because I am never sure what is going to happen next.  It always leaves me guessing.  I noticed this a few chapters in because I was trying to read the foreshadowing to piece together the plot, but it was difficult to do.  I think that the style of writing contributes to this because we only know as much about the world as Winston does.  I find it refreshing to read a book with a little bit of mystery about where it is going to end up.  Many books that are written now are easy to see through because they have all been written before.  Every movie that comes out now seems to just be another remake of another movie that has already been out because no one has any new ideas.  “1984″ is an old book but I see it as new in a sense because the idea of it is so radical and different and surprising compared to that of books and movies being released now. 

[trapdaddytrev-blog]

1984 was definitely different. I agree with you on the part of you never know what is going to happen next. There wasn’t a lot of irony in it because like you said we never knew more then the main character, Winston. I thought it was a okay book but it was such a struggle to get through some parts. I don’t read a lot of books I’m more of an magazine article person. With that being said I don’t really know the cliche of what will happen in the end. So all novels are interesting to me, beside this one it was just too hard to get in too 💁

[thouse1010-blog]

I tried to get into this book, yes I thought it was brilliant in the dystopian outlook and but the style of dialogue and the like earlier stated vague foreshadowing didn’t give me much suspense. However the similarities between the two books and our society kept me turning the page. The idea of brain washing the majority by the elite by mass propaganda, alteration of history and break down of individualism by teaching that free thought is the enemy of the free will of the dystopian society is extremely radical, and yet totally justifiable. The idea that “mankind will be the destruction of mankind” helps reinforce that. The only way to change this statement is to control the individual thought and have one “majority” or a “supreme” thought. The main issue, like in 1984, is who is it that is doing the controlling and what are there ultimate goals: greed or peace. In 451 Beaty told Montag the reason to destroy history was to keep peace with the minority which is now majority, while the in 1984 the public is being told BB is protecting Oceania when instead the idea of BB is controlling the populations desires.

[itsthetonyle-blog]

The book 1984 was very intriguing to me at the very least... it was a great play on the Dystopian theme but it was not a new concept to me. It spun off of the typical plot of: A elite Government dictates a mass population and influences the mass with its power and propaganda, however taking into account that this is an older book the reader will realize that this book was a fresh concept at the time and really expands society's view upon the Dystopian setting. I will admit that the author did do a great job of keeping the reader on edge with the fact that we would never know what is going to happen next pushing the reader to continue reading in order to fulfill the itch of curiosity. The fact that we as the reader never knew more than the main character was a great addition to the suspense and really added to the mysterious outlook. However all in all the novel was a bit of a difficult read simply due to the writing style and how the thought concept at the time it was created differs from today’s ideas and views, the novel was a great read. The novel was not my cup of tea and was initially difficult to follow and comprehend upon my first read of the book, thus often times i would have to reread a section multiple times in order to grasp what was going on and what was being portrayed.  

[juliestudent0809-blog]

In part three chapter two a lot of the main points in the chapter has to do with O’Brain trying to teach Winston that 2+2=5. I am wrecking my brain trying to figure out the symbolism regarding the importance of why 2+2=5. So far I have thought of this: In this book none of your thoughts are your own. This is very clearly discussed in part three. You only think what the party wants you to think. So if the party tells you that 2+2=5 then there is no question of it. But what gets me thinking is that we know 2+2=4 but why do we know that? Because we were told so. Everything we know is because we were told so at one point or another. So just like this book says, our thoughts are not our own. We base our thoughts on what others have told us and form a somewhat personal opinion around the point. So let me ask you this: How much of individuality really exists if everything we think is based off of what other people have told us? Why doesn’t 2+2=5? 

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

Our experience tells us so… I think sometimes we know things because of our experience with a thing, an idea or ideology, a practice, etc. I don’t always believe what I am told and I don’t always take things at face-value. I am always testing things. I’m sure we all are in some ways. I once had a friend who told me that he didn’t believe in anything religious but that he did believe in the idea of a God or omnipotent nurturing and wise presence. I asked him how that was possible? He told me that because when he dared to pray that he received “help” ,and more often than not, his prayers were answered. I think it’s that way with so many things in life. We would have no science if we believed everything we were told. Oceania has done away with science except for the refinement of their war machine. Science is about being curious and questioning everything. O'Brien really didn’t care if 2+2=5 or 4 or anything else. I think it was more about having control over Winston’s thoughts and mind. He made it impossible for Winston to eventually see anything else but what he wanted him to see. I am also convinced through much observation, that people really do see what they want to see. Think about the times you could see clear warnings signs about a relationship or practice your friend or family was involved with - later your friend tells you, I couldn’t see what was happening, I didn’t want to see. People see what they want to see and many times they choose to see things that convince them that they are right or correct about their own path. I still don’t know why 2+2=5 isn’t correct? - because some person long ago decided that two sticks, plus two sticks, equals a word called four (sticks).

[breakfast-of-runner-ups-blog]

Purity was a Flawed Concept Anyway, Winston.

Corrupt to the bones, you say? Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. I’ll explain my thought process here in just a moment, but let’s do a quick rundown of, “what does Winston literally mean” vs. “what does Winston metaphorically mean”. Or really, my theories as to what he means vs. metaphorically means.

In a more literal sense, I think it’s Winston trying to be ~deep~. He’s trying to get across how strongly he feels about what they’re doing, and about the difficulties of trying to hook-up with someone in this world. He honestly hopes Julia’s slept with as many people as possible (unintentionally progressive, George Orwell!) which is echoed by his hope for,“everyone to be corrupt to the bones.” (Is he saying he hopes Julia slept with everyone? No, no he isn’t, but that’d be fantastic and hilarious.) He’s, in other words, using corruption as a euphemism for sex.  

Metaphorically is where we get to the interesting bare bones of it all. Now, in 2016, I can recognize the inherent problems of equating purity with goodness.

Purity is unattainable. Goodness should not be, and isn’t. 

Something that’s pure is flawless because it has no agency or movement. There no mistakes because there are no choices. Purity is a the stationary emptiness of a blank sheet of printer paper. Goodness is all of the color and life on to the canvas. Character comes from the scars and scratches.

But let’s back track to the 1940s, when this was written, and the fictional 1984 that it takes place in. Winston is about to hook up with Julia, a, “political act” in his words. He’s trying to understand how what he’s doing is impure (according to BB) and also good (according to how he himself feels about it). When he says purity, goodness, and virtue, he’s thinking about BB’s ideas of purity, goodness, and virtue. Think about BB’s other virtues: War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. (Everything regarding the “Junior Anti-Sex League”.) So really, when he hates purity, he hates Big Brother. He hates the Peaceful War, the Free Slaves, the Ignorant Strength. He hates Big Brother’s Pure Corruption. If purity is goodness in this world; if BB is pure, Winston wants to be corrupt. He wants everyone to be corrupt. To the bones. Leave no space for Big Brother ideal, no light for it to bask in. Live in a place where there is only darkness. 

[christopherthewinsomer-blog]

It’s interesting that you compare Winston’s thoughts and action in a literal and metaphorical sense. In a world so wrought with the ideology of being pure, it comes to no surprise that purity has a correlation to being good. This strongly appears in religious teachings.

With that being said, I have to dive in a little bit deeper and build upon what you have written, especially in the line, “He’s, in other words, using corruption as a euphemism for sex.” This, my friend, is the easiest, strongest, and most prevalent example of goodness and purity. Sex. From the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary to Mary Magdalene, we see the battle between good and pure.

Now, let’s twist this to present day. There’s no denying it, we live in a society that is trying to be sexually liberal, however, there is still the taboo of being too sexually liberated.

The question is, how sexually liberated it too liberated, in the eyes of society?

Forgive me on this response. I may have gone off the deep end with this tangent. I apologize in advance.

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

What Will You Leave Behind? Granger told Montag that everyone has to leave something behind. Granger spoke beautifully of things that matter. I think about the garden I’ve spent hours in and wonder if anyone could ever come to love it the way I have. I keep a running diary to my daughter - one I want her to have when I am very old so that she can see all the ways I thought about her and all the beautiful words I saved for her over the years. Granger’s wisdom to Montag reminded me to think about what I may one day leave behind for my daughter, a stranger, my loved ones. I certainly hope it’s meaningful and gives hope and promise. I guess that’s why I’ve chosen Social Work as my major for the second half of my life. I truly hope that I can help to make someone’s load a little lighter or their way a little brighter. I’m so happy that Montag found the meaning of things that really matter. I’m so glad to have known him. Thank you Mr. Bradbury.

[notericclapton-blog]

Leaving behind a legacy is just as good if not better than leaving material things behind. I am right there with you when you said “I truly hope that I can help to make someone’s load a little lighter…”. I believe that life does not gain value by the amount of money or possessions that one has, but by helping others whenever possible. Even when we help people in seemingly small ways, most of the time we will not grasp the full impact we had on that person’s life. It may not change the world very much through a single act of kindness, but it will change that person’s entire world. I don’t care if I die as a rich man or a poor man. I only want to die being assured that I helped as many people as possible in my lifetime. I want to die knowing that I made the “load a little lighter” for everyone I could. 

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

Awesome!