"He wanted to take as long as possible in order to see that look of complete absorption upon her [Bessie's] face. It made him feel alive and gave him a heightened sense of the value of himself" (143).
I feel like Bessie plays a major role in this novel but most importantly in Bigger's life. She is one of the few people that express to him that she loves him. Naturally, he takes pride in that and wants to take advantage of her. He is taunting her here because it gives him the upperhand, thus making him worth more than he's depicted as. While everyone else in society makes Bigger feel horrible, Bessie is the one that makes him feel good. She is naive and Bigger is fascinated at that because he can make himself believe that he is actually worth something.
It's Bigger's words against Jan (a white man). Does he really have a chance?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Native Son - Pg. 97-140
"To Bigger and his kind white people were not really people they were sort of great natural force, like a stormy sky looming overhead" (114).
The way blacks are treated so differently from the whites, it is evident that there is no equality. Blacks are usually portrayed as savages (inhumane) but here the whites are described as not really being people themselves. Both blacks and white can be considered inhumane but for different reasons. The blacks ultimately have no choice but to act out and commit animal like acts. They're put in a place where they feel trapped so they want to rebel and break free. On the contrary, the whites live a great life but they choose to treat the blacks horribly. Real people have feelings and these whites are emotionless, therefore they're not really people. However, this doesn't change anything. They're still powerful and always will have the upper hand because of the color of their skin. And as for the metaphor: like a stormy sky looming overhead, they are inescapable and as much as the blacks want to destroy them, its simply impossible.
Will Bigger's thoughts on white people change?
The way blacks are treated so differently from the whites, it is evident that there is no equality. Blacks are usually portrayed as savages (inhumane) but here the whites are described as not really being people themselves. Both blacks and white can be considered inhumane but for different reasons. The blacks ultimately have no choice but to act out and commit animal like acts. They're put in a place where they feel trapped so they want to rebel and break free. On the contrary, the whites live a great life but they choose to treat the blacks horribly. Real people have feelings and these whites are emotionless, therefore they're not really people. However, this doesn't change anything. They're still powerful and always will have the upper hand because of the color of their skin. And as for the metaphor: like a stormy sky looming overhead, they are inescapable and as much as the blacks want to destroy them, its simply impossible.
Will Bigger's thoughts on white people change?
1984 Essay - Party's Similarity to God
Ashley Ducrepin
H.E 10 - Mr. George
03.20.09
1984
Throughout the world many people practice different religions where they look to someone of great importance. In most religions practiced, God is the center of worship. Ultimately, God is the most prominent figure in their lives and these people dedicate their lives to fulfilling all of God’s desires. Naturally, this raises the question of why he is so important and well-respected. When speaking about God, there are many great adjectives to describe him but there are three that explain why he is so powerful. The most commonly-used depictions of God are his omnipresence, infallibility, and omnipotence. There is nobody on earth who possesses these qualities and this is why God is so well-respected. However, in the novel 1984, George Orwell introduces us to a British society under a totalitarian regime where the political party in charge (known as “The Party”) strives to be as dominant as God. The Party is as dominant as God because of their inhumane-like qualities and their portrayal of a perfected society.
“Omnipresent: present at all places and at all times” (Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus). Despite the fact that God is this transcendent force that cannot be seen or heard, he is still felt and is considered omnipresent. We cannot see him but God is present at all places and at all times. Clearly, this is physically impossible for any human being yet the Party is able to gain this quality. One of the most helpful instruments the Party utilizes to aid in their quest to be omnipresent is a telescreen. The telescreen is a TV that can watch people’s every move, receiving and transmitting simultaneously. They help capture any citizens that may pose a threat to the Party. These telescreens are everywhere and there is no escaping it: “It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time” (3). It allows them to be present even when they’re not physically there similar to God himself. The Party uses not only technology but humans as tools to keep the society in order. The thought Police are called to arrest anybody committing thoughtcrime. Thoughtcrime is the act of thinking a thought that goes against the Party in any way: “thoughtcrime does not entail death; thoughtcrime IS death” (28). Surprisingly, one of the most important assets to the Party is children. Because children are so easily manipulated, the Party used them as spies to capture even more criminals: “The children…were systematically turned against their parents and taught to spy on them and report their deviations” (133). With all this assistance, the Party’ s objectives are reached easily.
A world where nobody makes mistakes? It sounds impossible, but again God defies the odd by making people believe he is infallible. We as humans accept the fact that we make mistakes and may never achieve perfection. The Party, on the other hand refuses to believe this: “Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right” (155). An example of a false claim the Party would make is that two plus two equals five. Everybody knows two and two make four however the Party is always correct ergo two plus two equals five. God is always described as flawless but in a good way – separate from the Party’s demonic intentions. The Party utilizes their status to make people believe in their infallibility. In the narrative, the main character’s occupation is to alter history. He updates Big all Party records so that they match new developments. The Party calls it rectifying history but the past is really being abolished and false information is being spread: “in the late Fifties, it was only the helicopter that the Party claimed to have invented; a dozen years later…it was already claiming the airplane” (153). There is no way to prove the Party wrong and so they remain in their hierarchical status.
“The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole surface of the earth and to extinguish once and for all the possibility of independent thought” (193). The Party is looking to gain control over everything and everybody. Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. They’re not only interested in controlling the present but all time periods and the Party has exhibited success in this. As they continue eliminating words in their dictionary they “shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by one word” (53). Ridiculously enough, the Party is able to control what all these people are thinking. With all this power, the Party is somewhat like God. The Party is omnipotent. Their ability to alter the Past and convince people that what they’re doing is right reinforces their flawlessness. To keep people thinking that their modified version of the Past is the truth, anybody that shows signs of contradiction to that fact must be eliminated. The Party is “something unalterable, like the sky” (131) and they are willing to kill in order to remain as powerful as they are. Citizens would disappear in the middle of the night and their records are eradicated as if they never existed. The Party can make people vanish with ease so it’s almost as if these people are not really living. The fact that The Party is able to be present at all times and is infallible enforces their invincibility.
God is usually looked to as this honorable force with more power than a man. Conversely, the Party has exhibited their inhumane-like qualities to remain in power and control everything. God is known for creating this earth and the Party uses its power to make people believe that they’ve created things like the helicopter or airplane. Since the Party is always correct, there is no way of proving them wrong. Thus, the Party is the most powerful and an important aspect of these peoples’ lives. Their life is dedicated to obeying all of the Party’s rules and if they dare go against that, they’ll simply be vaporized. The Party is extremely intelligent, they’ve acquired the right characteristics to gain as power as they have. They’re aim is to have the ultimate power and in order to become that powerful they needed to be molded into a Party inspired by God.
H.E 10 - Mr. George
03.20.09
1984
Throughout the world many people practice different religions where they look to someone of great importance. In most religions practiced, God is the center of worship. Ultimately, God is the most prominent figure in their lives and these people dedicate their lives to fulfilling all of God’s desires. Naturally, this raises the question of why he is so important and well-respected. When speaking about God, there are many great adjectives to describe him but there are three that explain why he is so powerful. The most commonly-used depictions of God are his omnipresence, infallibility, and omnipotence. There is nobody on earth who possesses these qualities and this is why God is so well-respected. However, in the novel 1984, George Orwell introduces us to a British society under a totalitarian regime where the political party in charge (known as “The Party”) strives to be as dominant as God. The Party is as dominant as God because of their inhumane-like qualities and their portrayal of a perfected society.
“Omnipresent: present at all places and at all times” (Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus). Despite the fact that God is this transcendent force that cannot be seen or heard, he is still felt and is considered omnipresent. We cannot see him but God is present at all places and at all times. Clearly, this is physically impossible for any human being yet the Party is able to gain this quality. One of the most helpful instruments the Party utilizes to aid in their quest to be omnipresent is a telescreen. The telescreen is a TV that can watch people’s every move, receiving and transmitting simultaneously. They help capture any citizens that may pose a threat to the Party. These telescreens are everywhere and there is no escaping it: “It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time” (3). It allows them to be present even when they’re not physically there similar to God himself. The Party uses not only technology but humans as tools to keep the society in order. The thought Police are called to arrest anybody committing thoughtcrime. Thoughtcrime is the act of thinking a thought that goes against the Party in any way: “thoughtcrime does not entail death; thoughtcrime IS death” (28). Surprisingly, one of the most important assets to the Party is children. Because children are so easily manipulated, the Party used them as spies to capture even more criminals: “The children…were systematically turned against their parents and taught to spy on them and report their deviations” (133). With all this assistance, the Party’ s objectives are reached easily.
A world where nobody makes mistakes? It sounds impossible, but again God defies the odd by making people believe he is infallible. We as humans accept the fact that we make mistakes and may never achieve perfection. The Party, on the other hand refuses to believe this: “Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right” (155). An example of a false claim the Party would make is that two plus two equals five. Everybody knows two and two make four however the Party is always correct ergo two plus two equals five. God is always described as flawless but in a good way – separate from the Party’s demonic intentions. The Party utilizes their status to make people believe in their infallibility. In the narrative, the main character’s occupation is to alter history. He updates Big all Party records so that they match new developments. The Party calls it rectifying history but the past is really being abolished and false information is being spread: “in the late Fifties, it was only the helicopter that the Party claimed to have invented; a dozen years later…it was already claiming the airplane” (153). There is no way to prove the Party wrong and so they remain in their hierarchical status.
“The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole surface of the earth and to extinguish once and for all the possibility of independent thought” (193). The Party is looking to gain control over everything and everybody. Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. They’re not only interested in controlling the present but all time periods and the Party has exhibited success in this. As they continue eliminating words in their dictionary they “shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by one word” (53). Ridiculously enough, the Party is able to control what all these people are thinking. With all this power, the Party is somewhat like God. The Party is omnipotent. Their ability to alter the Past and convince people that what they’re doing is right reinforces their flawlessness. To keep people thinking that their modified version of the Past is the truth, anybody that shows signs of contradiction to that fact must be eliminated. The Party is “something unalterable, like the sky” (131) and they are willing to kill in order to remain as powerful as they are. Citizens would disappear in the middle of the night and their records are eradicated as if they never existed. The Party can make people vanish with ease so it’s almost as if these people are not really living. The fact that The Party is able to be present at all times and is infallible enforces their invincibility.
God is usually looked to as this honorable force with more power than a man. Conversely, the Party has exhibited their inhumane-like qualities to remain in power and control everything. God is known for creating this earth and the Party uses its power to make people believe that they’ve created things like the helicopter or airplane. Since the Party is always correct, there is no way of proving them wrong. Thus, the Party is the most powerful and an important aspect of these peoples’ lives. Their life is dedicated to obeying all of the Party’s rules and if they dare go against that, they’ll simply be vaporized. The Party is extremely intelligent, they’ve acquired the right characteristics to gain as power as they have. They’re aim is to have the ultimate power and in order to become that powerful they needed to be molded into a Party inspired by God.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Native Son - Pg. 54-77
"He had a keen sense of power when driving . . . he loved to press his foot against a pedal and sail along, watching others stand still" (63).
While most people view driving as an important factor in their daily lives, Bigger becomes consumed with a feeling of power when he's behind the wheel. This is the only time Bigger feels that his life has a purpose. Him behind the wheel driving serves as a metaphor to represent him actually being able to escape this horrible lifestyle he is forced to live with. And when he's driving, he's the only one who's been able to escape so he likes the powerful feeling that allows him to feel greater than everyone else despite his skin color.
How are Mary and Jan so comfortable and amiable with Bigger?
While most people view driving as an important factor in their daily lives, Bigger becomes consumed with a feeling of power when he's behind the wheel. This is the only time Bigger feels that his life has a purpose. Him behind the wheel driving serves as a metaphor to represent him actually being able to escape this horrible lifestyle he is forced to live with. And when he's driving, he's the only one who's been able to escape so he likes the powerful feeling that allows him to feel greater than everyone else despite his skin color.
How are Mary and Jan so comfortable and amiable with Bigger?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Native Son - Pg. 30 - 53
"His confused emotions had made him feel instinctively that it would be better to fight Gus and spoil the plan of the robbery than to confront a white man with a gun" (42).
I can see right through Bigger. He's very much like most of the young men in our society today. Feeling like he has to put on this front to look "hard" in front of his boys. While his friends may not see what his objective was when he picked that fight with Gus, it was clear to me. In the end, it proves that being anything but yourself is harmful. Bigger was extremely scared and did not want to go through with the robbery. However, he could not just back out because then he would be perceived as a punk so he needed another way out. So he lashed out on the only person he knew [for a fact] he could defeat and get away with it. He knew it would not be the same with Blum.
Are the boys' relationship with Doc done?
I can see right through Bigger. He's very much like most of the young men in our society today. Feeling like he has to put on this front to look "hard" in front of his boys. While his friends may not see what his objective was when he picked that fight with Gus, it was clear to me. In the end, it proves that being anything but yourself is harmful. Bigger was extremely scared and did not want to go through with the robbery. However, he could not just back out because then he would be perceived as a punk so he needed another way out. So he lashed out on the only person he knew [for a fact] he could defeat and get away with it. He knew it would not be the same with Blum.
Are the boys' relationship with Doc done?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Native Son - Pg. 3-30
"'Every time I get to thinking about me being black and they being white, me being here, and they being there, I feel like something awful's going to happen to me'" (20).
This is foreshadowing. I already believed something bad was going to happen to Bigger just by reading the first couple of pages. His acknowledgement to it just supports my claim. He's living in a society where he's ostracized and treated differently because of his skin - how could one live under those circumstances. Then, the one place you would think one would feel comfortable at is just as horrible for Bigger. At home, his whole family treats him horribly and makes him feel almost responsible for their living conditions. Its natural for one to act out when they're stuck in a situation like this. So I can already sense disaster for Bigger.
Is Mr. Dalton white or black?
This is foreshadowing. I already believed something bad was going to happen to Bigger just by reading the first couple of pages. His acknowledgement to it just supports my claim. He's living in a society where he's ostracized and treated differently because of his skin - how could one live under those circumstances. Then, the one place you would think one would feel comfortable at is just as horrible for Bigger. At home, his whole family treats him horribly and makes him feel almost responsible for their living conditions. Its natural for one to act out when they're stuck in a situation like this. So I can already sense disaster for Bigger.
Is Mr. Dalton white or black?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
1984 PT.3 - CH. 2
"'The first thing for you to understand is that in this place there are no martyrdoms'" (253).
First of all, I'm perplexed as to why O'Brien is acting this way. Is this the same O'Brien that was in the underground Brotherhood; as I'm reading he sounds much more like an undercover member of the Party. Specifically, its this quote that confuses me and provokes suspicion. Here, he is explaing to Winston that martyrdom does not exist however I do recall O'Brien previously saying something very much contradicting: "'You are prepared to give your lives?'" (172). He asks Julia and Winston this when they considered joining the Brotherhood. Sounds like martyrdom to me...
First of all, I'm perplexed as to why O'Brien is acting this way. Is this the same O'Brien that was in the underground Brotherhood; as I'm reading he sounds much more like an undercover member of the Party. Specifically, its this quote that confuses me and provokes suspicion. Here, he is explaing to Winston that martyrdom does not exist however I do recall O'Brien previously saying something very much contradicting: "'You are prepared to give your lives?'" (172). He asks Julia and Winston this when they considered joining the Brotherhood. Sounds like martyrdom to me...
1984 - PT.3 - CH.1
"He loved her and would not betray her; but that was only a fact, known as he knew the rules of arithmetic" (228).
ONLY ...? Usually, a fact is enough for us to just take it. However, here Winston is saying this promise he made was said truthfully but it does not mean he has to believe it. And when he refers to the rules of arithmetic, he is talking about the Party's "fact" stating [2+2=5]. As far as anybody is concerned, this is the TRUTH because the Party says so. Obviously, Winston doesn't believe this at all but he goes along with it. This is the same situation with Julia, the truth is he will never betray her but does he believe it? I think NOT.
ONLY ...? Usually, a fact is enough for us to just take it. However, here Winston is saying this promise he made was said truthfully but it does not mean he has to believe it. And when he refers to the rules of arithmetic, he is talking about the Party's "fact" stating [2+2=5]. As far as anybody is concerned, this is the TRUTH because the Party says so. Obviously, Winston doesn't believe this at all but he goes along with it. This is the same situation with Julia, the truth is he will never betray her but does he believe it? I think NOT.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
1984 - Analyzing "Ignorance is Strength"
"For long periods the High seem to be securely in power ... They are then overthrown by the Middle who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty & justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High" (202).
This whole concept of altering who is in charge is not a historic change (as described). When only a few people are affected by something of this nature, then it is simply a transition. It's a typical example of the people's greed for power. And they will do whatever it takes to get there. They even use the people in the Low as puppets, falsely making them believe that they are fighting for justice. This is reminiscent of the play Othello; Iago used Roderigo as a lever to destroy Othello and gain power. And after the Middle gains a higher rank, the Low is left with nothing.
"From the point of view of the Low, no historic change has ever meant much more than a change in the name of their masters" (202).
This whole concept of altering who is in charge is not a historic change (as described). When only a few people are affected by something of this nature, then it is simply a transition. It's a typical example of the people's greed for power. And they will do whatever it takes to get there. They even use the people in the Low as puppets, falsely making them believe that they are fighting for justice. This is reminiscent of the play Othello; Iago used Roderigo as a lever to destroy Othello and gain power. And after the Middle gains a higher rank, the Low is left with nothing.
"From the point of view of the Low, no historic change has ever meant much more than a change in the name of their masters" (202).
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