Gattaca

I. The novel uses the experience of everyday, ordinary Germans in order to show how major historical events have been lived at the personal level.

Compare and contrast the ways Cisneros and Piercy feel about names in general and their own names in the Vignette “My Name” and the poem “’If I had been called Sabrina or Ann,’ she said.” Comment on the language and language techniques used.

One can argue that a conflict within one’s self can lead a child from youth to maturity. This is evident in the conflict and resolution that occurs within Gene. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles incorporates indirect characterization to show the shift of Gene from a paranoid to compassionate personality.

"The expectations put upon the genetically enhanced to live up to their genetics are almost debilitating as the discrimination against the unenhanced", suffering "under a different burden, that of perfection". When Vincent saves Anton from drowning in the swimming game, he realizes that his brother is "not as strong as" the engineering promises which that incident gives him hope to start going for his dream as a "faith child". The burden of perfection is worse for Eugene, when he understands that, based on his genetic profile, he "was never meant to be one step down on the podium". But Eugene comes to see that the invalid Vincent is "better at being" jerome than Eugene himself, showing him hopes to become satisfy with what he got. However Dr. Lamar’s presence stands as a figure who rebuts the societal segregation based on genetic makeup through science.A scene near the end of the film shows despite always knowing Vincent’s true identity,Dr. Lamar lets him board the rocket departing for Titan. This is also because Vincent stands as hope for a son Dr.Lamar has, whom genetic makeup is not like what they promise.

the most significant indicators of Niccol's underlying message to hold onto one's individuality, as Vincent is seen to succeed not due to his superior genetics, but to his persistence and dedication.

Many characters in Morrison’s book are given names that describe them somehow throughout the story. Names in the book or either historically based or given in regards to the character’s personality or events that happened throughout the book. As the story goes on, character either let names define them or escape them.

3. Identify each of the following characters below by (1) their relationship to one another and (2) what can be inferred about their personalities thus far.

The film GATTACA and the short story, “Nine Lives,” exemplifies the ethics of altering human life at the genetic level, through techniques of genetic engineering. Throughout GATTACA, the ability to create improved, even superior forms of human life as a positive development through eugenics is shown as well as arousing questions about the moral implications of such engineering. The main protagonist in GATTACA, Vincent Freeman, battles with the discrimination of being an “invalid” in a world of “valids” and comes to realize that he is not an inferior being in the midst of an altered humanity. In “Nine Lives,” a lone survivor of the ten genetically engineered clones of John Chow struggle come to understand itself in relation to unaltered humanity and its individuality for the first time in its life. A dystopian society is produced when unaltered humans and genetically engineered beings coexist and interact with one another due to nefarious social practices such filtering menial jobs only to “invalids” in GATTACA and the emphasis in the value of clones and their worth to society as collective work group rather than focusing on each individual’s contribution to society. The film GATTACA exhibits the adverse nature of eugenics while “Nine Lives” stresses the importance of individualism instead of collectivism and fend off the need to be reliant on others to feel welcomed in society.

In Nazi Germany, the axis fought extremely hard to oppress Jews and dehumanize them. These ideals were pushed upon the German citizens relentlessly during Hitler's reign through laws. In the book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the author presents the readers with characters who are under Nazi rule. These characters are all affected by the government in different ways, but the overarching theme of the book is the dehumanization of good people. Hans, Rudy, and Liesel all give humanity back to someone who has been dehumanized, even in the face of adversity.

4. Compare and contrast the characters of Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss. How do their reactions to Charlie’s intelligence differ? How do their approaches to science differ? How do their differences affect Charlie?

show a large amount of similarity, as well as differences, both in the way he

They decided to have another swimming competition, and Anton wanted to prove that invalids could not beat valids and to prove last time they swam he did not lose to Vincent. Vincent agreed and he was ready for this challenge. Anton swam to

He is intelligent, clever and an excellent speaker. Like the tagline of the movie, he frequently makes an “offer he can’t refuse”. Another trait is his ability to read people, especially during Bonasera’s plea to the don. He is also a ruthless person, if he cannot deal with words, guns and bullets will. Even with his supposed evil, he is seen as many as a very loving father and many people love him. He was clearly hurt when he found out Michael gunned down Sollozo and McClusckey, indicating he loved Michael that he didn’t want his son to be part of any crime. He is able to separate blood and water, and embrace them both, evident when he adopted and raised Tom Hagen like he was a son. He also show a deep sense of morality, not agreeing to the dawning drug business at first, and when he did agree, he proposed that it should never be sold to kids and near schools. Near the end of his life, he became more relaxed and was able to enjoy his remaining

People with normal names live a privileged life. If your first name is something like James or Emma and your last name is something like Jones or Williams then you have no idea what it’s like to have a name that is unusual or “original.” However, the main characters from the novels The Outsiders and The Wednesday Wars know this feeling too well. Imagine having the name Ponyboy Curtis, or Holling Hoodhood because you could definitely have some trouble fitting in being called by a name like that. The Wednesday Wars is about a 13 year old boy growing up in Long Island during the late 1960’s living through all the politics and opinions in the year but also dealing with small middle schooler problems like having to wear tights in a play and getting bullied by the “big kids”. The outsiders is about a 14 year old boy growing up in Tesla, Oklahoma also during the late 1960’s. However, in this story the kid doesn’t talk about politics at all, instead he talks about his life struggles and real problems like the death of his parents, living a poor life where his two big brothers have to work jobs and not go to school to support them, and his brotherhood with the boys in their gang called the greasers. However, these two boys, despite having very different upbringings definitely have a few things in common, starting with their unique names.

1. How does the relationship between Vladimir and Estragon compare with the relationship between Pozzo and Lucky? What is the effect created by the contrast between these two pairs of characters? Is it significant that the characters appear in pairs, rather than alone?