Why Do We Continue to Teach Obedience?

The Year of the Flood makes us question if our society is heading towards the deadly epidemic that swept over the people of this book. While it’s true that a lot of us have started to become increasingly aware of the problems going on with our consumerist society, why have no concrete actions been taken? Many think that nothing can be done; no real solution can ever appear, so why bother? Even while reading The Year of the Flood, there is a sense of futility. Most of the people that live in the HelthWyzer compound are oblivious to the problems going on, and when other people do attempt change, such as Bernice and all the other protesters, they are simply killed off. People are indoctrinated to believe the Corporations are perfect and to live outside the compound's safe haven would be hell. What makes people so compliant to follow the rules of society?

One of the main issues is our educational system. Even in the Atwood's book, there is a strong parallel between the impact of two very different educational systems, one that resembles more to the one we use in North America, and one that is more hands on education, tailored to specific needs. In the HelthWyzer compound, children go to high school and college, and when they do not make it into prestigious jobs among the numerous branches of the Corporation, they get sent into the pleebs or into other mundane jobs. That is not too different than schools we go to today. The main problem with our educational system, and that of the HelthWyzer compound, is that students learn to conform and obey. There is no need to find an answer that does not fit within the choices of A B C D. Children are afraid of going below the "average" range of standardized testing, because they are always told that to be below could be detrimental to their education and therefore their futures.

 

We are not teaching students to cooperate with one another, to think creatively, to think about ways to improve the world we live in. No. We are teaching them to listen to ONE single person standing in front of them. Teachers often joke that classes are dictatorships, but we all know it is no joke. What were to happen if we taught our children more hands on skills, like the Gardeners of Atwood's novel? The Gardeners teach their children the necessary skills to be able to fend for themselves, how to be part of a prosperous eco-system instead of trying to be dictators of the beings. At the end of the day, the Gardeners adapt the schooling of their young to teach them skills that they can actually apply to their lives, instead of just enforcing results in standardized exams. They have better adapted to their reality, unlike the HelthWyzer compound, and actually worry about the future of their children.

 

However, there are flaws in the Gardener's educational system too. By the end of the book, only a small amount of individuals survived. It is clear that the Gardeners were not able to fully survive and were slowly falling to the Waterless Flood. They also had very narrow minded educations that only focused on certain limited aspects and refused to see outside out of their groups and ideas.

 

There needs to be a serious reform in our educational system, not an extreme overthrow to the other side of the spectrum. There needs to be right balance between the Gardeners teaching methods of practical skills and teaching the standard theory of subjects found in regular school systems. 

 

Educating the young to obey their teachers, and inevitably the government, is not the only problem in our society. What are some of the other factors as to why people willingly follow? Do you think education is one of the problems?

 

Works Cited

Image 1: "What Does School Really Teach Children?" January 18, 2013. Knowledgeoftoday.org. Web. May 3, 2014

 

Image 2: "Benefits of Homeschooling?" February 2014. Bruggietales.blogspot.ca. Web. May 3, 2014

 

Some Things Can't be Forgiven

In our society, we generally witness equality between men and women. We can get the same jobs among other things, and women except as much respect as men do. Yet, there are still gender roles ingrained in most of us, and at times, it seems like we may never get these judgements out of our heads. I think they are a sign that we haven't fully eradicated the attitude that men are the superior gender. This is explored in Atwood's novel, where we see that when a society falls apart, and becomes much more violent and less law-abiding, we revert again to male dominance, despite the fact that the novel is set in the future.

In our first reading from Year of the Flood, the society is mostly dominated by crooked thugs that are physically powerful and, needless to say, have a penchant for dominance. The government isn't there to help the citizens, but control them and to sentence them to death. We see that Toby is really on her own, with no support system, because of the fact that her parents are dead. This is why Blanco can completely take advantage of her, because there is simply no one to stop him. He and his cronies use and abuse the girls who work for him: “But he figured the girls were his perks. He had two pals, ex-bouncers like himself, who acted as his bodyguards , and they got the leavings” (Atwood 36). The horrible situation shows how, when faced with no opposition and a corrupt government, those are completely selfish and vile get the upper hand.

Life with the gardeners is completely different from life under the control of Blanco. At first glance, it seems like a utopian society—people living in harmony, growing food together, and being very close-knit. Yet, there is definetely inequality between gender here as well. Unlike the world of the Pleebrats and Blanco, which is blatantly awful, the Gardeners are trying desperately to hide their faults. They do not want to deal with any social problems, so why not pretend that there are none? This is shown when Mugi tries to rape Toby, and Pilar tells her to simply forgive him (Atwood 104). This is something that in my definitely should not be simply forgiven, because this gives the men no reason to stop behaving in this way. Because of this escapism, there is no solution to this problem in sight.

I'd like to know what you believe are some gender roles that we are faced with today. Also, do you believe that attempted rape can ever be forgiven? Why or why not? What do you think is the main difference between the way that Blanco abuses women, and the way that Mugi the Muscle does?

Works Cited:

Image 1: "My first Fanfict: Sorry Another Xmen". 9 Sept, 2009. CommicBookmovie.com. Website. April 19, 2014
Image 2: Exterior: "Awesome Rooftop Garden Landscape Design With Stone Path And Angle Sculpture Surrounded Colorful Floral Decoration" Orsito.com. Website. April 19, 2014.
Atwood, Margaret. Year of the Flood. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2009. Print. 
(Abby is Gabrielle)

What's Wrong With Love? I Love Love! Love Is Grand! (or not)

Did you ever have a friend in a relationship in which she or he completely dependent? You know, when you want to spend time between friends and they bring their companions that no one knows and the atmosphere is just awkward? Or, if the boyfriend or girlfriend is not here, it is impossible to talk to them because their faces are glued to their phones, sending endless silly text messages because “I miss him so, so much! I didn’t see him for like, three hours.”  I do not doubt that there is love between these kinds of people, but I do think that it is not a healthy relationship.  The contrary is also wrong.  If a relationship does not have any bases and the two beings involved do not have a minimum of respect towards each other, it will not last. 

A question that I always ask myself when I am witness of an unstable relationship (mostly between teenagers and young adults) is why and how the two people can still be together?   We live in an era where nothing is very private and everybody can know others’ business with a simple click of a mouse.  If a couple is not going well, the whole world will know sooner or later, and the friends and family (but mostly the friends) will eventually give their opinions.  I can believe that love can make you blind (cute, isn’t it?), but I also believe that there is a limit!  When you spend your time crying over your relationship, but hang on only because it is only “complicated” or that you “will change him” and that all of your social circle implicitly encourages you to break up, I think that something should connect in your head.  

After the discussion in class about if Clarissa did or did not take the right decision when she married Richard, I saw a side of their relationship that I did not noticed when I first read the book.  I thought that Clarissa was not happy with her husband and married him only for a strategic reason, but now I see that she did a well-reflected decision that would make her happy. The theme of feminism is quite present in the book. For instance, when we look at the female characters, such as Lucrezia and Sally, they are obviously not dependent to their husbands and do not let themselves ruled by the patriarchal way of life at this time.  I am not a fervent supporter of the feminism movement, but I agree that women need independence, especially when it comes to couples.  This is why I find that Clarissa did a good choice with her marriage with Richard. She was able to find the liberty she looked for and put her principles and her psychological health before her feelings towards Peter, which I really admire.

To come back with unhealthy couples, have you ever been in a relationship where your independence was threatened, or do you know someone who is into one right now?  Also, nowadays, what do you think is essential for a couple to last?  Would you put your emotions before your independence, or the opposite? 

Sources: 

Image #1: "Brands Are Not People - really?", September 19, 2012, jdm-digital.com, Website, April 12, 2014.

Image #2: "Unintended Design Legacies", August 7, 2013, blog.method.ac, Website, April 11, 2014.

To Be, or Not To Be

 Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in The Hours

“To be, or not to be: that is the question:


Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer


The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,


Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,


And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;


No more; and by a sleep to say we end


The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks


That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation


Devoutly to be wish'd.”

Hamlet – William Shakespeare

           “To be, or not to be: that is the question” is quite an overused expression, isn’t it?  However, I believe that we can all agree that Shakespeare’s words are extremely relevant.  Shakespeare, even way back in 1599, was definitely asking the real questions, which is why Hamlet’s soliloquy is still important today.  “To be, or not to be” is universal. It’s ageless. It’s a critical question to our existence. The answer is equally as critical. But, what is the answer? Virginia Woolf explores the question of suicide in Mrs. Dalloway through the characters of Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith.

What is Virginia Woolf trying to say about suicide? Each reader may have his or her own understanding, but here are a few facts. In the introduction to the 1928 Modern Library edition, Virginia Woolf writes that in the first version of Mrs. Dalloway, “Septimus, who is later intended to be her double, had no existence; and…Mrs. Dalloway was originally to kill herself, or merely to die at the end of the party.” (Berman 92)  In addition, Virginia Woolf unfortunately suffered from mental illness throughout her life and committed suicide at the age of 59. Because of her bout with mental illness, she was able to implement her own experiences through the characters of Clarissa and Septimus. One aspect that Woolf incorporated into Mrs. Dalloway in particular is her dislike for doctors. Like Septimus, Woolf was rather wary of doctors and their methods. In Woolf’s letters, she admits that Septimus’ suicide is “[a] subject that I have kept cooling in my mind until I felt that I could touch it without bursting into flame all over. You can’t think what a raging furnace it is still to me – madness and doctors and being forced." (Berman 92)

As we’ve seen, Dr. Holmes is described rather negatively by Septimus as representing “human nature.” Bradshaw, on the other hand, stresses “proportion”, which relates to one of Woolf’s experiences with a doctor. Upon meeting a doctor, he said to Woolf, “Equanimity - equanimity - practice equanimity, Mrs. Woolf.” (Berman 92) Woolf criticizes the concept of “proportion.” How is it possible to achieve proportion, or equanimity when one is mad, or contemplating suicide? What is proportion when one is constantly thinking about life? Throughout Mrs. Dalloway, Woolf demonstrates that we are always asking ourselves existential questions and questioning the state of our existence in relation to the world. In fact, right before Septimus commits suicide, he thinks, “Life is good.” (Woolf 146) But, Septimus had to get away from doctors and "human nature." In contemplating his decision, Septimus questions the world when he wonders, “Only human beings – what did they want?” (146)

What do humans want? In Mrs. Dalloway, Woolf is communicating that we are all connected through our desires and in the way that we think. Septimus' lack of “proportion” means that he is not concerned with things outside of himself. Bradshaw spoke of conversion, meaning he planned to “fix” Septimus and make his mind just like everyone else’s. But Clarissa, and other sane characters, also contemplate death. Is it not the natural state of the mind?  Are we not all victims of our thoughts? Bradshaw didn’t really plan help Septimus get better. Bradshaw planned to convert Septimus into what he considered normal. 

Despite one’s love for life and beauty, death is a relief. As a matter of fact, Clarissa somewhat romanticizes the idea of death while pondering Septimus’ suicide. Death is a way of “preserv[ing]” life and preserving oneself. “Death is defiance.” (Woolf 180) Defiance of what? Perhaps it is a defiance of letting anyone change you. It may be a defiance of letting the splendour of life fade away as you become more and more unhappy with life. Despite Septimus’ crazy view of the world and his dark opinion of human nature, Septimus recognized beauty. He did not want to let go of that recognition. In committing suicide, perhaps he has preserved the world as he saw it, regardless of how ludicrous his view was. And perhaps, if Clarissa had committed suicide, she’d be preserving her perfect view of the world and it's beauty would remain intact.

Understanding suicide means understanding that life is difficult. Through Shakespeare’s quote, “Fear no more the heat ’o the sun / Nor the furious winter’s rages,” we understand that death is surely an escape. It is an escape from one’s crazy thoughts and of the constant daily struggles of simply existing. However, perhaps Woolf is not suggesting that suicide is the way out. Instead, she may be communicating that it is important to never lose sight of who you are. Death is stopping time. Death is capturing the self as it is at that moment. Maybe Woolf did not want to change Septimus, just as Septimus did not want to change. When Clarissa thinks that if she were to die during her party, she would be happiest, Clarissa is trying to preserve her feelings in that exact moment. Why convert? Being who you are is always better. 

Is your view/interpretation of Mrs. Dalloway different now knowing that Virginia Woolf suffered from mental illness and committed suicide? Do you think that, perhaps, some of the themes in the novel are reflective of her own thoughts?

Works Cited

Berman, Jeffrey. Surviving Literary Suicide. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 1999. Print.

Woolf, Virginia, and Bonnie Kime Scott. Mrs. Dalloway. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, 2005. Print.

Image 1: "The Hours." 13 Nov.2013. Tumblr. Web. 12 April. 2014. <http://daysoffuturenow.tumblr.com/post/66923313688/the-hours-is-one-of-those-movies-that-make-you>

Images 2 and 3: "The Hours." 17 Nov.2013. Tumblr. Web. 12 April. 2014. <http://arizonagarbage.tumblr.com/post/67315040526/i-think-ive-seen-this-film-several-dozen-times>