For your final essay, you will be comparing/contrasting two of the class readings. Your specific topic is your choice, but you will want to be sure that you make an argument. You could, for example, focus on a number of things, from how the body is portrayed in each reading (and what these portrayals suggest about attitudes or thoughts towards the body) to a particular theme (of human desire to create a sort of Utopia or how the idea of love is represented). You want to choose a topic that is specific enough to fully explore and will be focusing on the similarities and differences between how the two texts you choose deal with your topic or theme. You could also focus on literary style – and the ways in which each of your chosen texts uses style to enrich content and/or more fully engage the reader.
Please write a paragraph or two that proposes your topic and how you intend to approach it by Monday, November 17th. You can post here on this blog or turn in to me in class. Your proposal will count as a response grade.
15 responses so far ↓
Ian T // November 16, 2008 at 5:24 pm |
In the final paper, I intend to compare and contrast Bernard and Dr. Frankenstein. These two protagonists take a dim view on their respective societies. They take different routes to buck the system, but both go against the established norm. Interestingly, both books tackle the subject through the human body. Bernard is protesting the promiscuity rampant in his society by clinging to one woman, while Dr. Frankenstein goes against the accepted science to create a human himself. I will approach these topics by describing the temperament of each man when thinking about his society, discussing the actions they take as a result of their thoughts, and analyzing the effectiveness of the results.
cteran // November 16, 2008 at 7:46 pm |
For my final paper I will be comparing the corruptive nature of knowledge and what it means to be “human” in Frankenstein and Brave New World. In each novel the story is centered on a being that has no real sense of themselves. However there is a difference in how they arrive at this point.
izamojda // November 16, 2008 at 10:03 pm |
I would like to compare and contrast Bernard and the creature Frankenstein, specifically their lack of physical beauty/perfection (with an emphasis on the use of technology/ technological enhancements), and how this correlates to their unhappiness (their feeling of inferiority).
I will approach this topic by discussing why their physical imperfections cause the characters distress and how these imperfections end up being catalysts for their actions. I want to discuss how these characters fit into their respective societies and how, despite their seemingly different backgrounds, how they are those ones looking for utopia, a place where they can live simply as who they are (no judging, no manipulation of the mind or body). Finally, I would like to analyze the theme of science and technology and the results/impacts of technology on each character (did science truly contribute positively to the human race with these technologies?).
berniechung // November 17, 2008 at 12:17 am |
In Frankenstein, the monster that is created seems so human at times. He wants companionship, feels the full range of emotions, and even gets angry and acts on vengeance. Although he is probably a better being, and improvement over humans, because he has super human abilities, he still wants acceptance from humans. His form does not allow man to accept him. His hideousness causes the inside to be masked. In turn Frankenstein becomes obsessed with destroying the monster he sees instead of preserving the humanity within. This also happens with the “civilized” society in Brave New World. Bernard and John are so obsessed with the fact that society is dysfunctional by their standards, they do not see the humanness that lies within. Only the controller can provide the insight needed to show why the civilized society runs the way it does. Mustafa explains to John the reason for the different mechanisms to ensure “stability” that might seem like science run amok to the outside observer/savage. Again, the protagonist is obsessed with what he can see instead of what lies underneath. My argument is that in both cases the protagonist’s (and some of the surrounding characters) obsession with the obvious deformity of the surface blinds him to the humanity that is beneath.
jassgroce // November 17, 2008 at 12:28 am |
For my final essay, I plan to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between Bernard and Dr. Frankenstein and how they both longed to achieve profection using the human body as there work piece. I also plan on comparing how the to men worked on doing what they felt was right to do. How Bernard did so much to control, train and transform the lives of the people in his community. He, like Dr. Frankenstein tried to play GOD. Also Dr. Frankesntein also was on the search for perfection. He built him a person, made him a person. I also wanted to discribe the differences between the two. How Bernard actually did care about the people in his community. How he cared about them and how he tried to make their life better. Unlike Bernard Frankenstein did not care. Once he did what he did he did not care about Frankenstein. These are some of the topics I would like to cover in my essay.
thang08 // November 17, 2008 at 12:31 am |
I am impressed to explore my final easy that comparing two characters in Brave New World and Frankenstein. The two characters are Monster and Bernard Marx. When we analyze these characters, I have seen several similarities. Both Bernard and Monster become human beings through the innovation of science and technology. Monster is created by Dr. Frankenstein through his scientific knowledge while Mr. Marx is produced by the technological processes. These two characters do not obey or serve the will of their creators. Both are against their creators in different ways. Monster leaves his creator, kills, and bothers people. Mr. Marx is against his creators by committing to conceive his girl friend, Lenina Crowne, and finally leaves the system which he lives in. Monster and Mr. Marx plan to get better futures. Monster requests a wife to Dr. Frankenstein but Dr. Frankenstein does not provide and makes the Monster angry. In Brave New World, Mr. Marx has planned to get promotion on his job by introducing John, the son of Director and Linda. At first, the plan seems work but finally Marx himself outcast from his society, and join his girl friend who she is living in the real world.
When we study how Monster learns the world, he wants especially learning humans’ behavior. For example, he studies and learns secretly what people are doing while he was in a cave at a farmer home. Nobody teaches him how to find foods, get fire, and etc. In other words, he is a great desire to be a part of human beings. Mr. Bernard Marx has classified as an Alpha since he was produced. He has been trained by his creators. Since his childhood, he has been taught everything if his creators think that it is good for the system. Here, we can see dissimilarity between the lives of the Monster and Mr. Marx.
cbaileyb // November 17, 2008 at 12:37 am |
In my final essay I decided that I wanted to explore human flaws. In “Brave New World” the reader is shown what the world would be like if we exterminated all of the flaws that are all to human. In this world there is perfection, yet no passion. In “Written On the Body” the reader is introduced to a character that is nothing if not flawed, yet they seemed so much more fully alive. So though we desire for perfection, to be nothing but happy all the time, is it our flaws that make us human.
sableotey // November 17, 2008 at 12:48 am |
I’d like to write my final paper, based on the blog response below. (In comparison to Frankenstein and Brave New World) I don’t think this monster was an early literary version of a cyborg because a cyborg is a person who is partially flesh and bone, but has one or more robotic appendages electronically linked to his or her nerves. With that being said, a cyborg is a human being, already conceived, born, and birthed by his mother, not man made. In the story of Frankenstein, the monster was man made. Frankenstein created life and by doing this, he’s playing the role of God. No man can create another being. Who is he to think that he could even began to place himself on a pedestal of a higher power. When I think of cyborg, I think of all of the new technology that one uses to make life more “livable” or worth living for. From my experience and observation of life, beauty is the key. Everyone wants to be beautiful right? Although the monster was indeed monstrous looking, but he was still a life. A life of a combination of different body parts from different places, things, people, and animals. It was like, all of these different body parts, completed him. This made him whole. Some people feel like they need these different body parts to make themselves whole, just as Frankenstein did when he created the monster. Nowadays people do things to not only help sustain life (pace maker) but to “Enhance” life. Some people just aren’t happy with who they are or what they’ve become and feel as though physical surgery can make everything all better, but it doesn’t. How can one have someone or let someone love them when they don’t love themselves, for who they are, just the way they are, the way that God made them. You have to love yourself first.
sbr291 // November 17, 2008 at 12:56 am |
for the final paper, I plan to compare the Nautre of what it feels to have emtions through the writen on the body and what it feels to be a monstar in Frankenstein. Bothy seem very interesting in how it show that monstars dont have emotions and humans create monstars but also humans dont have emotions and they are called a monstar. I hope to go in depth with the feelings that had triggered frankenstein to kill and hurt and what writen on the body had with love and destroyed but having affairs. showing fear in love and hate. showing happiness in love and hate.
parkhannah // November 17, 2008 at 1:47 am |
I would like to write a comparison/contrast on view of women in both books. How women are interecting among society.At the beginning of Brave New World, it is made immediately clear that the students are all boys and Frankenstein, women are generally seen as kind but powerless. However, women have great effect in men’s lives.
marycreed // November 17, 2008 at 2:27 am |
Both novels provide the underlying question of where humanity falls. In Frankenstein a being is made, from several parts of corpses, yet he can speak and think and feel emotion. In Brave New World, the people are manufactured in laboratories and conditioned to think and feel in specific ways. Frankenstein’s monster and the people in Brave New World are not made in the natural way, does this make them any less “human”. I want to explore how the definition of humanity is obscured in both Frankenstein and Brave New World through the analysis and comparison of the “normal” and “abnormal” characters (Frankenstein to society, Savages to BNW humans).
rachel5702 // November 17, 2008 at 2:46 am |
i would like to compare and contrast brave new world adn the shawl in reference to the holocaust. hitler was asked his theory behind his madness, and he said “tell a lie enough times and it becomes truth” which is exactly what was the idea in a brave new world. i would then like to look at the shawl and tell the differences and similarities. i haven’t quite figured out what part of the shawl, but i would like to look at the actual shawl, how it was a protection, adn compare it to the way of thinking in a brave new world.
bgray11 // November 17, 2008 at 3:45 pm |
For my final essay i plan to discuss the differences between the themes of love and knowledge in “Frankenstein” and “Brave New World”. In Frankenstein how the “Dr. ” seeks general accomplishment in his knowledge and science versus the well-being and love of his creature. In “Brave New World” i will discuss the effects of creating a brain-washed world and how the theme of love (lust) plays on the minds of the characters in the novel.
d3stin3d // November 18, 2008 at 7:37 am |
For Essay#3 I am going to compare and contrast the culture shock both John “the Savage” and the monster in Frankenstein experienced. I will also discuss the effects the societies had on each of them. When John “the Savage” comes into the “civilized” world he is somewhat viewed as childlike because he is more interested in developing as a human being than indulging in the pleasure driven society. The monster in Frankenstein is childlike when he interacts with the society around him because he is learning as he goes along. Everything is new to him. In depth I will talk about this and the effects that are experienced.
HB // November 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm |
For the final essay I planned to write upon how scientists use of science for the enhancement of human body. How it is good or bad for humans in psychologists and biologists point of view as they shows in both books “Frankenstien” or “Brave new World.” And what were the various circumstances who made this Utopian process to Dystopian.
You must be logged in to post a comment.