The Fight For Freedom By Iris Murdoch

Writers and artists incorporate imagery into their works in order to describe the challenges that come with diversity. Struggles appear to people who do not fit the status quo as characters feel isolated from their country and the people within it, frowned upon by other citizens, and faced with countless challenges. Individuals facing challenges often have to find a way to escape their hardship, indicating that they are upset with being controlled. In the short story “Liberty” written by Julia Alvarez, a family from the Dominican Republic faces the challenge of getting their Visas in order to escape the dictatorship in their country. Although the main character Julia is sad to leave her dog named Liberty behind, she has no choice but to kick

Most who argue against censorship believe that it goes against a person’s right to freedom of speech. Within this argument, most people wonder “just when, and on what grounds, the state is justified in using its coercive powers to limit the freedom of individuals” (West). When thinking in this mindset, individuals tend to antagonize the government, because they come to believe that it suppresses their individuality and fail to consider the fact that it unites people who share its similar beliefs. As a result of the recent spike in technology and use of the Internet, the public must continually alter its definition of freedom of speech and expression. As the media offers more and more methods of communication, many of which are relatively self-regulated by users, more methods of expression develop, which may render other forms of expression obsolete, or even socially unacceptable (Qazi). Without understanding how much freedom of speech one is entitled to, one may never hope to defend that freedom if it ever comes under attack. Because technology develops so quickly that one definition will hardly suffice for a short period of time, people will find it increasingly difficult to understand how much right to expression they are allowed and will therefore fight for any and all that they may attain, never considering the benefits of censorship in the slightest. In America especially, people idealize the idea of democracy, the investigation of truth, and independence (Fieser). In

On the other hand, some people argue that book censorship is a violation of their constitutional right to freedom of speech, and the right to self expression. One article puts its effects this way, “Permitting restraints on literature sets the stage for attacks on all expression that is artistically or politically controversial or that portray unpleasant realities of life.” This,

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor: it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Freedom is the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants. All people have freedom from birth or even from the beginning of some type government power. On the contrary, people have been demanding for freedom on account of the higher power or government taking it away from them for their specific reasons. In Collection texts, “I have a Dream”, by Martin Luther King Jr, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, and “The Censors” by Luisa Valenzuela all demonstrate that freedom must be demanded.

First, the author argues, “When engaging in critical literacy, readers question reality and entertain multiple perspectives about particular topics, attitudes, and behaviors” (Graff). Challenged and banned books are beneficial to readers. These banned books help students evaluate more difficult pieces of literature, which could be used in the future. Jennifer Graff states, “...Book censorship helps us think critically about the power of the written word as well as the relationships between individuals, texts, and contexts, to paraphrase Lawrence Sipe (1999)” (Graff). Banned and challenged books allow readers to see the truth--from the past, future, or present--written by the author. Readers can apply these ideas to real-life situations successfully. In the article, On Reading and Sharing Banned Books, the topic of “...heightened sensitivity about what and how we say things,” and needing, “ongoing conversations about how literature can be part of our lives without undue stress and controversy” is exposed (Graff). Books are written for many reasons, to inform persuade, entertain, and relax; however, with books censorship, finding relaxing or entertaining books is extremely difficult. Without censorship, readers could easily discuss these now controversial topics without worry. The purpose of the book, good moral, and potentially

Thomas Jefferson once said, “That government is best which governs least…”. In Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury, the government puts extreme laws in place to “protect” the people. Except, that these laws keep the citizens from knowing the truth. The good laws like speed limit aren’t enforced and the things that shouldn’t matter, like owning a book, are so strongly enforced, that if it is you that is found to own a book, your house will be burnt down. The government keeps everyone in check by censoring the citizens. During the 1950’s, the entire country was in fear of communism. There was a blacklist of authors, actors, and public figures. No one would hire them or buy their work. Bradbury wanted to warn the country of what could happen if it continued being ignorant , and by using pathos, rhetorical questions, and repetition, he effectively conveyed his purpose.

In Fahrenheit 451 censorship causes a loss of societal growth, individual thought and personal happiness. In the futuristic world Bradbury has created, firemen start fires rather than extinguishing them. People in this society do not think independently nor do they have meaningful

American Scripture is a work of nonfiction written by Pauline Maier and published in 1997 by the Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. publishing company. The book centers on the writing of the Declaration of Independence and how it influences America. It also looks at the various aspects that control and shape how the Declaration is written. Within the book, many of the fundamental principles of United States are discussed. Three of the most important ones addressed throughout the book are limited government, popular sovereignty, and equality.

Have you ever thought what the world would be like if everything was controlled and you had limited access to everything you have now? Conformity, censorship and equality have big parts in Fahrenheit 451, The pedestrian, and Harrison Bergeron, but do not have big rolls in life today.

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” are both stories of a dystopian society where laws are in place that restrict everything a citizen can do and their basic human rights. Characters in Fahrenheit 451 are restricted by the threat of being removed from society, where the characters in “Harrison Bergeron” actually have physical restrictions placed on their bodies. Bradbury and Vonnegut show that the dangers of these kind of restrictions lead to conformity, and ultimately a loss of human individuality. Conformity in these two societies means that the citizens are part of the community, but are being brainwashed by a government that controls their lives.

The short story “The Red Convertible” was written by Louise Erdrich. Louise Erdrich was born in 1954 in Little Falls, Minnesota and was the oldest of seven children. Her mother, who was a Chippewa Indian, worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her father, who was a German-American, was a teacher of Native American studies in a school that was run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Growing up, Louise’s parents told her many stories of the Indian culture growing up. Her parents encouraged her to write her own stories and her father paid her a nickel for every story she wrote, and even made Louise covers for them. Louise continued to write throughout her childhood and then became one of the first women admitted to Dartmouth College in 1972. She majored in creative writing and English. She also took classes in Native American studies with the chair of the department, Michael Dorris, who she would marry in 1981. After Erdrich earned her masters degree in writing from Johns Hopkins, she collaborated with Dorris on poems and short stories that were inspired by their love for each other and Native American culture. They first published work together shortly after being married and were in need of money, but the quickly written works went on to be award-winning. The couple continued writing short fiction and published novels together. When the couple separated in 1995, Louise moved back to her hometown to focus her work on Native American themes and be with family.

Imagine a society in which its citizens have forfeited all personal liberties for government protection and stability; Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, explores a civilization in which this hypothetical has become reality. The inevitable trade-off of citizens’ freedoms for government protection traditionally follows periods of war and terror. The voluntary degradation of the citizens’ rights begins with small, benign steps to full, totalitarian control. Major methods for government control and censorship are political, religious, economic, and moral avenues. Huxley’s Brave New World provides a prophetic glimpse of government censorship and control through technology; the citizens of the World State mimic those of the real world by trading

Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced

Truly talented writers critique societies foolish actions whilst warning them of their impending future. However, few manage to genuinely depict the origin of these foolish acts. George Orwell’s 1984 and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner critique both political and social oppression to demonstrate that blind loyalty and the surrendering of free will is the demise of modern society.

There really is no true or perfect human image yet society these days expects people to look and act a certain way and people can be very cruel if a person does not meet these expectations. In the novel The Chrysalids written by John Wyndham and in reality presently, many human rights are violated and these rights will continue to be violated as long as humans exist and people continue to be cruel. In the town of Waknuk, certain people do not follow the human rights but instead they violate them. Throughout the novel, many characters rights are being violated such as the abuse and torture David faces, the intolerance towards woman like Sophie and Petra for being different.