Depravity In Oryx And Crake

The Salem Tragedy of 1692 was a cumulative downfall, wherein no singular person was responsible, but instead everybody was in his or her own way. At this time in history the people of Massachusetts were like dominos, rigidly set up in lines across the board, but all too close for comfort. So close to the tipping point, that one small factor would send them all hurtling over the edge.

Do individuals interested in the facts and history of literature ever wonder how similar conflicts are solved in far contradicting time periods? In the plays, Macbeth by William Shakespeare and The Crucible by Arthur Miller, readers catch a glimpse of how two similar but different feuds are dealt with between the two communities. Whether it’s witchcraft or the ruling of twisted former general, the pieces of literature share a point with crime and dishonesty. With the theme corruption, these two pieces of literature display how wrong doings are taken care of and restored in two differing situations and time periods.

It can occur in any form, slightly stressful or devastating painful. It can happen to anyone, rich, poor, big or small. Adversity is inevitable. Most people would consider it very negative with no benefits, but they are not aware of its hidden effect. Roman poet Horace suggests that adversity can cause a person to demonstrate certain talents, which would not have been present if not for their misfortune. People and characters in any literary work experience unfortunate events and put through difficult situations that they need to overcome. Adversity uncovers their concealed gifts that help them through their hardships. Under its effect, it also can alter the process in developing a character and transform them into someone completely different.

Atwood's portrayal of Snowman as the last survivor of Homo sapiens sapiens, compelled by his promise to take care of the Paradice project in Crake's absence, has significant similarities to the Christian myth of Noah and the Ark. The catalyst of events in the Christian myth is man's injustice to fellow man and god, and likewise in Oryx and Crake the catalyst is Jimmy's betrayal to Crake, which broken down, shows both man's transgression against man and god. As one of the elite, elegant minds of society, Crake undoubtedly has godlike qualities. Through the technological advances made by him and his peers, Crake is able to control and alter creation, ."..to create totally chosen babies that would incorporate any feature, physical or mental or spiritual, that the buyer might wish to select." (Atwood, 304) This godlike context parallels not only man's (Jimmy's) transgression against god (Crake) but also god's command that man ensure the continuance of creation. Just as Noah marched all the animals in twos into the ark, so Snowman leads the Crakers, ."..the women and children, with a file of men to either side" to the seashore (350).

personality and is one of the main focus on the story .Abigail's attention grabbing personality

“The essence of immorality is the tendency to make an exception of myself” (Addams). Immorality is a very subjective concept, but sometimes it is undeniable. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Abigail Williams is shown to be the most immoral character through her constant disregard of others throughout the different events of the story, furthering the point that when in fearful situations people will only think about themselves.

Often individuals over dramatize their opinion to convey their attitude. Similarly, Danforth often acts extreme in his attempts to rid witchcraft from Salem when he says, “If retaliation is your fear, know this- I [Danforth] should hang ten thousand that dares to rise against the law” (Miller 129). Danforth displays demagoguery while he explains to Reverend Hale why the executions must happen on schedule because he appeals to Hale’s passionate fear of witchcraft. Danforth’s response to Hale works in the scene to further build the audience’s perception of Danforth as irritable and urgent, yet precise, and support his determination as Deputy Governor. However, Danforth’s determination often misguides his rationality. Furthermore, Danforth supports the thematic topic of law in The Crucible and helps the reader understand the severity of justice Miller conveys throughout the play. Danforth’s role develops the play by illustrating the stubbornness of authority in Salem during the witch trials.

Benjamin Franklin dropped out of school at age ten due to lack of wealth. This misfortune caused Franklin, to be put to the test of challenges in adversity. However, he never stopped pursuing his education which ultimately lead to substantial inventions and America's founding fathers. Similarly, The Crucible, focuses on the conflicts of the Salem witch trials and the uttermost actions that can create dim ambitions. Arthur Miller's play “The Crucible”, exhibits characters that struggle through hardships which ultimately end in union. The Crucible is shown as a severe test or trial, it pertains to characters John Proctor, Reverend Hale, and Mary Warren because, they all faced adversity through several young girls unable to speak the

Disease, for as long as mankind has existed, it has existed alongside us. It acts as one of death’s greatest causes, killing millions of human beings throughout time. It’s seemingly god-like power lead many an earlier man to believe that it was supernatural in origin. During the early colonial period within America, it was attributed to witchcraft. An ideal that was only encouraged by the theocratic governments of the time. This formed the basis for the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller. Throughout most time, disease finds most of its targets amongst the poor people. Hiding within the filth of society, waiting to pounce upon those too weak to defend themselves. The rich, however, hide themselves away from the disease by hiding themselves away from those that are infected, the poor. This ideal is explored throughout Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Red Masque of Death”. Disease is found within both works, as is a commentary on the politics of the times depicted.

Prompt: A work of literature cannot be regarded as successful unless at its end the main character meets a fate that seems to be the natural result of what he has done or shown himself to be. Show how this statement is true in The Crucible.

In Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake we see the cause and effect of how our childhood and how we are raised has a large correlation to what type of adult we become. Through the character of Jimmy and later his new persona Snowman, the reader is shown the detrimental effects of an abandoned childhood. Not only do Jimmy’s poor choices in his adult life have a clear link to his neglected and unguided childhood they also create an adult that is emotionally damaged and unable to see the right path in his life even when he wants to.

Corruption spreads like a contagious disease. It starts with one infected person and then infects weak people who are not strong enough to defend themselves from the disease. In The Crucible, the theme of individual corruption infecting a whole society is prominent to the plot. The weak Puritan societal structure of the merge between strict religion and government makes it a prime target for corruption. Abigail Williams displays that one corrupt person erodes social order into a juncture of weakness through her conspiring characterization in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

From the very beginning, society has seen women as inheriting the character flaw of Eve 's original sin. Most people see women as lustful beings because of how Eve tempted Adam in the garden of Eden, meaning they were more susceptible to the Devil. Men target the females because of their views and the roles they play in a male dominated society. Men have a more opinionated view of a woman 's duties. The Crucible portrays women as the very definition of sexual desire, open to demonic command and beneath the common beggar, with little or no reputation attached to their name.

As I first started to read ‘Oryx and Crake’, I was somewhat skeptical of whether or not I would enjoy reading it. The first chapter confused me with unusual words that I have never heard or seen before. Whenever I read something it is usually a book or magazine that I plan on reading or that is based on actual facts on a certain subject such as history or sports related. This book came as a surprise as I started to read it because it was not as hard to understand as I thought it would be and was actually quite enjoyable. The symbols in this book can mean many different things based on what the reader believes since religion plays a big part in it.

The title of The Crucible effectively helps us to understand the play in a deeper and more thorough way as the definitions of the noun ‘crucible’ reflects the themes of the play such as moral, reputation, courage, righteousness, hysteria and truth. It also foreshadows the severe and unjust persecution of the upright characters who hold on to their beliefs and moral values, as the word ‘crucible’ comes from the Latin word ‘crucibulum’, which derives from the word ‘crux’. ‘Crux’ is also the root word of ‘crucifixion’.