"When Youth Violence Spurred ‘Superpredator’ Fear": Newspeak Version

Kahton Anderson boardwise bus on 3yp 3rd quarter with a revolver in his hand. His aim was doubleplusungood, and he killed an inner party member. Anderson was charged with association to resistance and crimethink by thinkpol. Anderson is to be vaporized. Anderson is young and ungood. Violence is rising with those who are young and not members of the Youth League. The Youth League supports BB. Anderson was 14 and not a member of the Youth League. Without Ingsoc, Anderson would be free. Because of BB he is vaporized and no longer a threat. With BB's elimination of the resistance, violence has declined. Anderson will be sent to a joycamp and then vaporized. BB made it possible for those who are 13 and 14 to have the opportunity of going to joycamp. This is doubleplusgood and increases the number of Youth League members. With more Youth League members and a decrease in violence, the economy has become doubleplusgood and drug use has declined. More and more children who commit crimethink are vaporized thanks to BB. With only goodsex, only Inner Party members can be born. This will help eliminate resistance and crimethink. However, the issues are still raising fear with their new “knockout game”. It involves a group of issues punching a random member of the Youth League on the street. The thinkpol consider this both a facecrime and a thoughtcrime. Issues who violate such rules should be vaporized. BB has reason to believe that the issues who commit this crime are directly involved with the resistance. These issues have been called “impulsive and “ungood” by members of the Inner Party, who claim that they are overburded with “sexcrime” and  “duckspeak”. Mr. Eskow, a worker at recdep, speakwrote to upsub saying that he knew a group of issues who had committed similar crimes. BB will stop them. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/us/politics/killing-on-bus-recalls-superpredator-threat-of-90s.html?rref=homepage&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Home%20Page&pgtype=article

 

Ignorance is Strength

The memory of her still clouds my mind
Sometimes I lay awake at night
Trying to unwind
But the tragedy I witnessed still brings me fright

If I do not think, I am strong
The memory of her makes me weak
I pretend I am not bothered and try to play along
But without my ignorance, I am so weak

She passed away on the eve of our wedding
Such a tragic time to pass away
A car came along as she was running
And hit her body so hard she went tumbling away

My love for her pains my heart
But I only feel it when I think

Travels During a Gelid and Mysterious Morning

The musky darkness surrounded us and seemed to stick the cold air to our bodies. Only a small peak of the sun was visible in the distance, slowly making its climb to the top of the trees. The frosty morning dew clung to the tips of the grass, and left dampness on the luscious coat of my furry companion. His eagerly wagging tail slapped against the back of my jeans in an effort to gain my attention. I stared down at his large black pupils and crooked smile. Highlights of the trees and power lines reflected into his deep black pools. His pink tongue hung to the side of his sharp yellow teeth, and his breath showed in visible puffs of smoke. Mine was visible as well, but in larger and denser packs of smoke. In the distance, I spotted a yellowish tint shining down through the fog. I strode toward it at a brisk pace, with the collar of my furry companion clicking behind me. I stared up at the glaring streetlamp, the only light that had appeared all morning besides the barely peeking sun. Moths and other critters allured by its presence had become permanently stuck in its burning luminescence. I seated myself directly under the streetlamp, the gelid sidewalk causing my legs to shiver. With a gloved hand, I unlatched the leash and watched as scurrying paws ran around me in circles, overwhelmed by their sudden freedom. I turned my attention the ball of orange fire that was rising at a quicker speed in the distance. Eventually its presence engulfed the treetops and morning had officially begun.

The Profitable and Successful Quest of The Englishmen

At the beginning of our journey we were aggressive. We went in guns blazing to assert our dominance. We were a pack of Englishmen (and women) competing for resources with the natives. Our strategy must have worked because we developed promising relations with the Natives. They respected our power and our honesty. We never intended to hurt them, but our quest for resources was number one in our priorities. We would let nothing stand in our way.

Although we were anxious to gain resources, we did not press for about three months. This was part of our plan to kindly reach our goal. During these three months, we grew close to the Natives. They accepted us. Each month the Natives granted us goodwill. They were content with us and appreciated our kindhearted spirit towards them.

After these three months, we knew it was time to act. We began pressing for resources, but still maintained promising relations. The Natives were understanding of our need and willing to help. The weather conditions remained normal during this time period, so it was not difficult to plow for resources. I’m sure this was a factor in the Natives willingness and acceptance.

However, as weather conditions worsened, tension with the Natives began. A monsoon hit, threatening to diminish the resources we had worked so hard to gain. Harsh winds and heavy rain poured down flooding our land and destroying homes of the Natives. We wanted to be sympathetic, however we had waited too long to begin gathering resources. Three months without resources left us in a stressful situation, and we had no choice but to press the Natives once more. Consequently, hostile relations began. The Natives were extremely angry about our treatment and threatened to fight. We reacted violently and chaos broke out. In the midst of a horrendous monsoon, we fought aggressively with the Natives. The unforgiving wind blew debris into our eyes on the battlefield, while the heavy rain made slick pathways under our feet.

After the fight was over, we respected our boundaries with the Natives. Relations were at an all time low and we knew something had to change. We did not press for a month, leaving the Natives at peace. They appreciated our actions and discussed a truce. Weather conditions remained normal and relations were once again promising.

However, next month it was critical that we press for resources, no matter what conditions the weather had in store for us. We prayed for good weather, but alas we were left with another rainy season. On the bright side, it was not nearly as severe as a monsoon. With the monsoon having destroyed many of our resources we had to press the Natives. Relations once again turned hostile. They felt as though we had betrayed our truce. Again, the Natives threatened violence. A small fight broke out ending in only a few minor injuries.

As the next month approached, tensions eased and disagreements worked themselves out. We were fortunate that our favorable relations had returned. We worked together with the Natives to gather resources and ended up with a profit margin of eight. At the end of our journey, we were proud to be the most successful of the Englishmen. 

The Fantastical Inspirations for "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"

            After reading “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, Coleridge’s interests and ethics have become much more clear. He has a particular interest in ancient stories and the act of storytelling. This is apparent when he describes the wedding guest listening to the Old Mariner “like a three years child.” He believes it is valuable to listen and learn from your elders, and describes the wedding guest as “a sadder and a wiser man” rising from “the morrow morn” after hearing the Old Mariner’s story. Coleridge also must believe in supernatural beings due to the wedding guest’s questioning of whether the Mariner is a ghost or not. He exclaims, “I fear thee, ancient mariner!” and “thy skinny hand!”

            The poem went against the unrhymed language of traditional romantic writing, but held many of the themes commonly associated with the era. One such theme is the focus on the importance of experiences. The story is told largely from the Ancient Mariners perspective, highlighting the value of individuality. The romantic era of writing was among the first to focus a literary work on the storytelling of one major character. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner also exemplifies holiness in nature. Coleridge places the old mariner in the open ocean for the setting of the poem, making him seem small and vulnerable in comparison to the vast ocean. Nature is a spiritual element in this poem.

            The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was inspired by a number of historical narratives such as Captain James Cook's voyages, the legend of the Wandering Jew, and Captain George Shelvocke's 1726 “A Voyage 'Round the World”. In  “A Voyage 'Round the World”, a shipmate is said to have shot an albatross. This also occurs in Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Others claim the poem was inspired by a dream or that it was written while Coleridge was under the influence of opium.

            Coleridge struggled with an addiction to opium most of his life. It affected his social life and his career as a writer. In 1814, he separated from his wife and put himself in the care of a doctor. One of his most famous poems “Kubla Khan” was believed to have been written from an opium-induced dream. Evidence suggests that “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” may have been as well. During his sailing adventure, the old mariner and his crew are blown off course. They are eventually faced with dehydration and starvation. While lost at sea, they encounter an eerie ghost ship occupied by Death and Life-in-death.  These two ghosts play dice for the souls of the crew. The mystical nature of this poem and its supernatural elements would be difficult to come up with unless under the influence of opium. These imaginative elements marked a shift away from realism that began during the Romantic Era in literature.

            Coleridge’s literary devices help add to the fantasy elements and depth of the poem. He employs imagery to ignite the reader’s imagination. The imagery of “water snakes” and their reflective colors is one such example.

Lady Macbeth...The Cruella Deville of the Shakespearean Era

Lady Macbeth is definitely more villainous than her husband. She is a strong, fierce, and violent woman, which was very uncommon during the Shakespearean Era.  Next to the three witches, she was the most influential person in Macbeth’s downfall.  The three witches were the catalyst for Macbeth’s actions, and Lady Macbeth was the driving force. Since her relationship with Macbeth is on such a deep level, she can easily manipulate him to carry out such horrendous actions. Surprisingly, Lady Macbeth seems to be the dominant character in her marriage. This must have been quite a shock for viewers during this era.  Although she does not display her power over Macbeth in public, she humiliates him in private in order to get what she wants.  

            As soon as Lady Macbeth learns of the witch’s prophecy, she devises an evil plan to kill the king. Her husband appears reluctant to carry out the plan, but after enduring his wife’s mocking he eventually agrees. Her greed and desire for power is made clear when she claims that she would murder her own baby while nursing in order to have the power Macbeth could have. Such a statement portrays her ruthless and cunning nature.

            Despite how evil Lady Macbeth may seem she undoubtedly loves her husband.  Love is apparent between the two when Macbeth sends his wife a letter sharing his news of a promising future. She also knows him quite well and realizes that in order to gain the wealth and power she desires, she must con him into her plans. She insults his masculinity on the night of Duncan’s murder, claiming that she will do it since he is unwilling. This suggests that she is above him in courage and strength. However, she is unable to commit the murder because the king resembles her father as he is sleeping.  The fact that she in unable to commit the murder shows that she is not completely evil and does have a few benevolent emotions.

             Although Lady Macbeth greatly influenced her husband to murder the king, Macbeth could not have committed the act if he was not somewhat villainous. Lady Macbeth is more upright about her evil nature and more ambitious, but it would be illogical to say that Macbeth is not evil as well. He wanted to murder Duncan just as much as Lady Macbeth, but did not have the courage and ruthless ambition his wife displayed. She is not selfish in her plan to kill Duncan, she knows it is what her husband truly wants and believes it will benefit both of them.

            After murdering the king, Macbeth grows more comfortable with committing sinful acts. This is apparent in his murdering of Duncan’s two servants. He murders them carelessly and is not thoughtful or guilty afterwards. Since the murder of Duncan was so dangerous and extreme, the murder of two servants seems like easy work for Macbeth. I still believe that Lady Macbeth is more villainous due to her cunning and sly nature, but Macbeth’s villainous actions should not be overlooked.

Oh, The Places You'll Go...How Geography Shapes a Story

I had always considered geography as merely the setting in which the important aspects of a story take place. However, geography can in fact be the main focus and symbol of a story. Traveling to a new place signals a fresh new start. Foster’s example of Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Bean Trees” demonstrates how a character can change after moving from a closed to an open environment.

As readers, we must consider the affects of geography on a characters personality. For example, in the “Bell Jar” geography plays an important role in describing Esther’s insanity. The novel begins in New York City, which is often associated with endless opportunities and dreams. Ironically, this is where Esther begins to feel trapped inside her “bell jar” of feelings. Her need for security and closure is reflected in the secrecy of her chosen hiding place for attempted suicide.

Writers dictate our understanding of the geography in a story. If a writer describes a lively beach as depressing, then we as the reader are forced to see it as such. Geography is more than just a setting; it can sometimes be an explanation of a character’s entire personality.  Readers may consider themselves as just a consumer of the finished story, but we are actually a collaborator in the process of text creation. Therefore, we are an active voice in determining the meaning of a text. A writer must be aware of how they describe a fictional place in order to properly assert it into the readers’ mind. The geography of a story must be explained thoroughly so that the reader may understand its correlation with a character’s actions.

An example of how geography defines a character can be found in “The Great Gatsby”. The main characters Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy all live in the luxurious and upscale areas of New York. The fanciful setting in which they live definitely determines their arrogant and haughty behaviors. These behaviors would not be as common for a character living on a small farm in the South. The reader can already make inferences about characters before they are even introduced based on the geography of their living environment.

Geography is also tremendously important in the entertainment industry. Directors spend millions every year to build perfect sets or film in exotic locations in order to enhance a story and make it real for the audience. Every detail is important, especially when recreating a literary work on screen. The recent version of “The Great Gatsby” was far more effective in communicating the meaning of the story than the 1974 film. The 2013 film had a much more vibrant and outstanding set and engaged the interest of many viewers while also working to shape the characters.

In Jane Austen’s famous novel “Pride and Prejudice”, the story is set on a secluded island, allowing the social interactions of it’s inhabitants to be uninterrupted by the outside world. This explains why the class system is based on the importance of wealth in marriage rather than love. Geographical choices shape a story and are an important aspect in determining the outcome.