V for Vendetta

In V for Vendetta, Alan Moore creates a world deprived of many freedoms and pleasures set in a futuristic totalitarian England. Living in a fascist government, the humanity has endured repression and restriction. The concepts of resistance and revolution come forth throughout the book thru a single character, V. Struggle for rights and freedom heightens and ignites with the protagonist’s, V, actions and words. It is thru his story that the reader understands the oppression and cruelty behind an authoritarian government. When V talks with Evey we learn that the government would take anyone who was different: Black, Pakistanis, and homosexuals. In search for strength, the government has turned to unity and therefore removed anything that caused change or made individuals unique. In the book, V portrays revolution as revenge just as the title itself suggests. Since the beginning, the murders committed were not directed towards the head of the government but those who were involved with V’s past. Seeing the pain, anguish, and torture endured by the victims in the resettlement camp, the reader understands how V suffered the full injustices of the government. In the book, V compares the society to a company as they become the workers and the government the management. He stirs the community and awakens them to realize what they have allowed for many years by telling them they have neither spine nor pride. V utilizes violence to oppose the government and calls for action from the people. He mentions, “You gave them the power to make your decisions for you.” By calling for action and reinforcing power to the society he fills them with strength to stand up and fight for what they believe and rights. Yet by hiding his identity and strategizing killings creates and idea of terrorism and insanity which causes fear to the people.

            By having a series of images displayed to the reader, the illustrator and writer have a better way to enhance and clearly convey their ideas and the moods behind them. In the passage in which Evey helps V by going to see the bishop, Tony Lilliman, the illustrator creates a series of moods of anxiousness and forewarning. The passage changes scenes from what’s happening between the bishop and Evey arriving, to V, to the guards and how they all come together. The changing of scenes with the background voice of the bishop reading a religious piece on each scene intensifies the effect of anticipation. The bishop speaks of an evil which adds to the images of V attacking the guards and heading for him. The sense of anxiousness continues as the reader learns from bits thru the investigators voice recordings of what happened when V poisoned the bishop with a communion wafer. Here the illustrator played with how the story is unfolded as the reader learns what occurred along with the investigators. Thru this use of images the writer can clearly demonstrate to the reader the mood the characters feel and the tone of the setting.

A world governed by technology

In a world in which technology grows and spreads faster every day, people must wonder if this is for the best. In the poem, “All Watched Over By Machines”, the writer, Brautigan, produces two opposing tones: anti-technology and pro-technology. When analyzing the poem by an anti-technological tone, we get a sense of satire. The form which the poet transmits his views appear exaggerated to the point of it ridiculing the notion of technology advancing any further. For instance he mentions, “a cybernetic forest filled with pines and electronics where deer stroll peacefully past computers as if they were flowers.” In this world, technology is not only being there but replacing our natural environment. He makes this view by replacing flowers with computer which is how computers have been replacing the jobs of so many people. He later goes on to mention how we are “all watched over by machines of loving grace.” Here machines do not even appear as if existing along us but being superior. The expression “watched over by” and the term “grace” usually alludes to the almighty being, God. By doing this, it illustrates the concept of technology being our savior whom we rely on for help and salvation.

The poem can be interpreted as having a pro-technological tone as the author utilizes imagery of nature and purity to create an appeal for technology. Through the use of euphoric diction, Brautigan portrays technology as harmless and pure. He uses terms such as “cybernetic meadow”, “programming harmony”, “pure water”, and “clear sky”. By putting both aspects, technology and mammals, together in a flowing poetic way, he generates a liking to the world. The word usage, such as “meadow,” helps create an image of a peaceful environment as well as set a soothing tone. The writer then uses “programming”, which is of the technological aspect, with “harmony”, which is what humans would desire in an ideal world. “Water” and “clear sky” produce a pure feeling making technology pleasing.

Although the use of imagery and diction all appear to be producing a tone of peace and purity, the poem does not have a pro-technology message. It seems exaggerated and ridicules how humans are allowing it to take over their lives. Brautigan ends his poem with “joined back to nature, returned to our mammal brothers and sisters.” This clearly states that we should go back and depend on one another and not lifeless machines. Machines are not mammals and the repetition of “mammal” stresses the idea of not being dependent on technology. In addition, as mentioned before, this world is not shared with mammals but governed by technology.

Interpretation of "Design"

List of Images

-“dimpled spider, fat, and white”

-“white heal-all” flower

-“white piece of rigid satin cloth”

-“death and Blight”

-“ingredients of a witches’ broth”

-“dead wings carried like a paper kite”

-night

-survival

-innocence

-darkness

-life

-death

            Is life and its’ future set in stone; should we believe in destiny? Many people today believe in fate and entrust themselves to horoscopes and psychics. In “Design” the poem describes an image of life and death as a spider has caught its meal, a harmless moth. In this poem, Robert Frost illustrates the idea of life being a design by utilizing the image of survival as the predator overpowers the victim.

            Everything that happens in the poem appears as though it was created so that the spider will eat the moth. In the poem Frost describes the spider as “dimpled spider, fat, and white” and the moth, “white piece of rigid satin cloth”. These juxtaposing images of light and darkness set the idea of a battlefield. The writer portrays the spider as being fat while the moth is described as fragile and innocent by comparing it to something soft and smooth as satin. Frost continues by stating, “And dead wings carried like a paper kite”. The image of innocence remains by the poet using a simile to compare the dead moth’s wings to something light as a kite. By doing this comparison, the moth appears weak by nature as it cannot change its physic and therefore inferior to the spiders strong legs. The “white heal-all” flower adds to this scheme of design as it helps lure the innocent moth into its doom. The poet illustrates this as he questions almost sarcastically, “What had that flower to do with being white, The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?” It is ironic how the flower appearing almost harmless and blissful was what trapped the moth. Its pleasurable appearance of white and blue colors drew the moth in. Even the name of the flower portrays it as inoffensive. Furthermore, the spider can be seen as harmless as its color is a pure white color. Life appears has been planned and set so the predator will beat its prey. The spider did not force the moth to come as it came willingly with the attraction of the flower. Also how did the spider predict the moth would fly there unless it was designed to?

Why ANAlysis of Literature

Life is always full of the unexpected, people just need to practice paying close attention to find these wonders. It can be surprising what we can learn when we stop looking at the big picture and concentrate on the smaller picture. At first glance my title may seem simple to many people but to me it is not. This class is about learning about literature from how it can be defined to why it is essential to learn and more. In many ways we will be analyzing literature which is one of the reasons why the title of my blog is ANAlysis of Literature. The capital letters is not an error but done so on purpose. If you know me, you will know that my name is Ana Ocampo. See the unexpected wonder. Since this blog is only about my thoughts and analysis, I felt my title should include my name. Therefore the other reason is that analysis has my name in it so I wanted to use that. By typing my name in capital letters I am able to emphasis this. It is like expressing this blog is about Ana’s thoughts on the class room topics and assignments in a simpler form. I like the title because it is like a little surprise that I feel makes people stop and say “oh I get it”. Also beside from making it my own and this, it also reminds me that many things are not always what they appear and in order to figure them out we must relax and look at things very minutely.