A Thin Layer Of Fiction Are Looking Backward By Edward Bellamy And Herland By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The perspectives introduced by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” consist of extreme conditions that depict the future of the world. Vonnegut Jr. and Le Guin ’s stories both involve the futuristic, utopian societies that later mutate into the complete opposite of what originally started as the idealistic community. “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” also include the corruption and the negative change that anger the authorities due to a specific individual that lives within the community. Because the two stories both have excessively significant events that occur, symbols of dystopian societies, drugs and handicap weights, and flawed human beings cause

Atwood tries to open our eyes by satirising our society with a brilliant contrasting novel. Dystopian in every way, the reader encounters a world in which modern values of our society seem/ are replaceable. Showing the worst of all possible outcomes, she demonstrates that our primarily heartless, just economical thinking could bring the downfall of our society. Altough satires are often used to be funny ;Atwood uses this instrument of literature for an attack on a society which she strongly disapproves of. With the intent to bring about improvement, she

Throughout the 1900’s, America has grown exponentially in its values, struggles, and art. The Best American Essays of the Century, written by Robert Atwan, showcases the progress this country has made through a series of essays ordered chronologically. Although many underlying topics existed in these pieces, three common themes particularly stood out. In “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston, “The Old Stone House” by Edmund Wilson, and “The Handicapped” by Randolph Bourne, identity is an important subject. Injustice is a clearly shared theme in “Coatesville” by John Jay Chapman, “The Devil Baby at Hull-House” by Jane Addams, and “Of the Coming of John” by W.E.B. Du Bois. Finally, in “Corn-pone Opinions” by Mark Twain, “Tradition and the Individual Talent” by T.S. Eliot, and “What Are Masterpieces and Why Are There So Few of Them” by Gertrude Stein, the aspect of non-personality and the removal of one’s self seems to be commonly spoken of in terms of creation.

The relationship between the individual and society is not just something found throughout human history, but also within the pages of a literature classic. From the first days of settlement in America, to racial tensions and slavery, to the development of capitalism, there has always been a relationship between the individual and society that is reflected in the written pieces of each time, revealing the connection between oneself and the collective spanning across the centuries. ‘The Scarlet Letter’, written in a Puritan world, and ‘Bartleby, The Scrivener’, written in capitalist America, are two key examples of literature that expose, detail and discuss the relationship between society and the individual in American history.

Over the past 75 years, the American people, while reading either short stories, novels, or longer publications, have been indoctrinated with the idea of modernism. This idea, has been pushed forwards be authors in all ages, and in all forms of publication. Modernism can be described, as looking at society and culture through a lens to find criticisms and critiques of the way that we perceive it. One of the best example of modernism that has been published in the past 75 years was by Flannery O’Conner, during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and her story “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Flannery O’Connor throughout her short story, uses character’s and phrases to demonstrate the presence of evil in society as well as in each and every one of us.

Often heralded as the world’s greatest nation, the United States is also considered home to the world’s greatest authors. Reputable authors such as Fitzgerald, Twain, and Steinbeck remain relevant even through the washing waves of time. One such timeless author, Ray Bradbury, ventured the hazardous path of taboo to write of change. Through his novels of innocent youths evolving into children enlightened beyond their years, Bradbury utilizes the motif of time, innocence, and the philosophical movements of existentialism, transcendentalism, and romanticism to describe catastrophic events the American culture could face if existing destitute judgments continue to prevail. Ray Bradbury dared to reveal his voice.

A comparison of dystopian texts explores contemporary issues of society and integrates them into an alien world. The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood illustrates the nature of society as far from ideal, and the destructive nature of oppression. Similarly, Gattaca by Andrew Niccol epitomises the characteristics of a dystopian text, by highlighting the subversion of natural processes, suppression of identity and oppression present in society. Both texts explore similar themes that reflect a society 's deepest fears to the audience- dehumanisation.

Literature changed drastically between the nineteenth-century and twentieth and twenty-first century. Idealistic views that British writers once held, turned into skepticism as Great Britain enter war and inequalities grew greater. The writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries wrote realistically what was happening in the world. The Moment before the Gun Went Off by Nadine Gordimer and “The Day They Burned the Books” by Jean Rhys are both stories that show the shattering of Idealism in twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

    One of the best ways to fully understand an era is to study its literature. The printed word has the incredible capacity to both reflect and shape the hopes, fears, and ideologies of the time. This is very evident when reading literature from 1960's America, a turbulent period in the history of our country. While the authors' styles are very different, there are definite thematic patterns and characteristics evident in many of their works. For one, there is a prevalent concept of the unenlightened masses. This concept serves as a foil for the enlightened few often represented as the main characters and more specifically as the authors themselves. There also

Many iconic literary works were developed by writers, who wanted to voice their opinion through writing, such as 1984 by George Orwell, one of the most iconic books of all time. For many, it is challenging for one’s voice to heard, especially if it an unpopular opinion, so they turn to writing. This popular writing style allows people to express their opinions through underlying themes in their stories thus allowing writers to be spokespeople of their times. From The Great Gatsby to The Crucible to “I, Too, Sing America,” each author has expressed the values, critiques of society and traits of their times through their stories and poems.

Despite the patriotism and nationalism constantly encouraged in the United States, our society is far from perfect, and science fiction is just one genre that comments on these frailties. Science fiction comments on our world by creating a dystopian society in attempt to emphasize our civilization’s dangerous flaws. Two examples can be examined in the selections, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury and "Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut. Fahrenheit 451 is about a society consumed with every possible form of technology. The people neglect one another and find a family within their fascinating trinkets. This is not very similar to our society, yet our society could eventually go down this path. Most characters from the book ignore knowledge and it is also against the law to educate oneself from books. Overall, there is limited meaningful conversation amongst the majority of people and instead, a lot of propaganda provided by the government. All of these precautions are taken so that ‘every minority is happy,’ similar to the theme of "Harrison Bergeron.” Furthermore, this selection focuses on equality and the lengths that a government will go to in attempt to destroy

Fictional/semi-fictional sources like ‘The Pox Party’ and non-fictional sources such as ‘The Cover Wagon Women’ and ‘Andrew Jackson’, craft a realm in which current historians can narrow down the strength and weaknesses of early American society. Although it is not able to give its readers a credible account to what actually happened during those times of American development, it is able to give us a vivid image of what people thought was important during their time. Readers are able to witness strangers’ dreams, their views of history and most importantly, what our ancestors found to be relevant enough to document. Authors like Sean Wilentz and M.T Anderson shape and somehow make a clear elaboration of the paradoxical nature of life in the early Americas and the development of American society. These sources are able to help us narrate a more flamboyant story of our own on how things were in the past and how certain aspects and factors of life aided tremendously to the up’s and down’s in American history. These theatrical sources delineate on the strengths and weaknesses of American history such as the rise of a new nation that grew to become one of the “first world” countries as well as the dark shadows of enslavement of various races. Furthermore, how the role of literature and personal items such as diaries and letters can convey heart-warming yet heart-breaking stories from beyond the grave.

Throughout the 1890’s to the 1920’s the Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States. It was also a period of explosive economic growth, fueled by increasing industrial production, a rapid rise in population, and the continued expansion of the consumer market place. The main objective of the progressive movement was illuminating the presence of corruption in government (Foner, 2017). During the 1880’s there were two very influential works published during the earliest moments of the Progressive Era. In the novel “Looking Backward” by Edward Bellamy, the author pinpoints the issues that he himself perceived in the social and economic systems of nineteenth century society. His novel presents an

The utopian fiction novel Looking Backward 2000-1887 was written by Edward Bellamy and was published in 1888. This novel starts with the main antagonist, Julian West. He is living in 19th century Boston as an upper class citizen. In his society there is a large wage gap between the rich and the poor. He is engaged to Edith Barlett, an individual who is equal in socioeconomic status in 1887. During this time there are frequent strikes between workers and employers for wages and amenities. But, they usually never succeeded due to the power of their employers. The strikes had become such a problem that it has delayed their marriage by disallowing the construction of their new home. Julian

Throughout the duration of this class, I had the opportunity to encounter a great deal of fantastic examples of literature. The stories were as similar as they were different, each one with a unique premise but somehow also reflective of one another. Perhaps it is be accident, or more likely it is because the stories are a part of the fabric of our nation and the American condition. The stories are of their respective times while also being able to fairly and accurately critique American society, culture, and values. From capitalism to America’s changing thoughts on morality throughout the decades, the writings were introspective to the story of our nation.