Patterns in 9/11 and the internet

1.)  Post-9/11 Social commentary

- Many people were traumatized after the tragic incident that occurred on September 11, 2001.

- There were many loved ones who unexpectedly died while working.

- No one would have ever imagined such a horrible disaster.

- Ever since the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers there is more precautions taking place. For example, there is more security to go through at airports and the law enforcement is more alert when it comes to terrorists.

- In general, there is the pattern of people being more cautious once a bad thing occurs. Instead of trying to figure out a way to prevent a tragedy, people unconsciously wait for something devastating to occur before taking action. Once the tragedy occurs then people react and take the precautions that are necessary to prevent anything like that to happen again. However, people usually die before serious actions are taken in situations like 9/11.

- Evidence: pgs. 134-137, Cayce has flashbacks of the attacks on the World Trade Center. She is feeling lonely and remembers of Win’s (her father) death. She can still picture how the attacks happened and how she reacted when she saw them on CNN.   

2.) Internet and the prospects of online social networks

- Nowadays it is easy to turn on a computer and immediately be connected to the internet. There are social networks such as Myspace and Facebook that practically summarize an individual’s life.

- There is also Yahoo, Hotmail, and many more emailing networks. These are usually more convenient for business people or schools. They serve as a way to communicate important information or to simply say hello.

- The internet can be an alternative when a person has no cell phone. For example, Cayce’s only form of communication with Damien, Parkaboy, her mom, and others is through her hotmail since she has no phone yet.   

-Ultimately, these online social networks allow people to keep in touch with their family, friends, and even to get to meet knew people.

- The pattern of online social networks is that first one person uses it, then another, and so on until mostly everyone is addicted to it.  

- Evidence: pgs. 72-77, Cayce is reading the emails that Parkaboy and Damien sent her. She is able to get information of exactly how, where, and what Damien is doing. She is also able to communicate with Parkaboy and keep up with the latest episode of F:F:F.      

Interpreting "A Rose for Emily" Through a Different Narrator

The reader’s perspective of William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily” would be different if it were narrated in first person singular by Tobe. All throughout the story the narrator constantly mentions Tobe, who is Miss Emily Grierson’s servant, as the only one who comes in and out of Emily’s house. This is important to notice because it cause the reader to have suspicions of Tobe. Thus, if Tobe were the narrator, the reader would be able to see his point of view of why he was the only one from the house to be seen and what was actually happening inside.

            As the narrator Tobe would be able to answer questions that the reader might have. For example, why doesn’t Emily come out of her house? Since Tobe has access inside her house and he takes care for her, he knows what is internally destroying Emily. The point of view of the story would not be from the outside and the reader would not wonder what goes on inside. Instead, the story would change from the neighborhood questioning what is wrong with Emily; to Tobe explaining her tragic situation. Another change in perspective would be that the reader would get more information or details about Tobe’s feelings towards Emily. For example, whether he likes or dislikes her and most importantly he could answer why he just left once she died? However, if Tobe were the narrator then there would be no input of what people around Emily’s house speculate, which results in ambiguity.

Furthermore, the themes of the story would change from death and love to racism and misery. This is so because Tobe being a “Negro” servant implies the typical social class status during slavery. Thus, a change in narration would partially move the spotlight from Emily to Tobe.

Pro-technology or Anit-technology?

The poem “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” by Richard Brautigan has a negative and positive view of technology all throughout the poem.

This poem can be seen as having an anti-technology tone or message because the author emphasizes that things should go back to how they use to be. In other words, he wishes that humans could return to those days where electronics didn’t exist or weren’t an obsession. This can be seen when Brautigan says, “…free of labors and joined back to nature, returned to our mammal brothers and sisters…” It is clear that in the quote the author is pleading for people to return to those days outside the world of technology. Nowadays people spend so much time on computers, cell phones, television and other electronics that they end up disconnecting themselves from everything else around them. For example, socializing and spending time with friends and family. The author is sending out a wake-up call to human kind as a whole, in hope that there can be a realization of how technology is an obstacle in life.

The author has a pro-technology tone or message because of how he describes the machines. This is seen simply in the title. The fact that the author uses the words “loving” and “grace” to describe the machines signifies the positive attitude towards technology. The machines are compared to nature and can even be interpreted as having human qualities. Brautigan says, “…where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony…” In the quote computers are being viewed as humans who are programmed to live in harmony. This serves as an anticipation of the author’s mentality or standing point. For example, how the author emphasizes or gives an idea that people should make efficient use of technology in their life. Thus, technology in general is showed as an essence in people’s lives.

Although there is both pro-technology and anti-technology evidence in the poem, it is clear that the author leans more towards pro-technology. This is so because there is a wish for technology and humans to live together in a balanced and productive way. The author’s mentality is for there to be peace within people and the use of technology. However, in order for this to work people need to learn to balance and limit the use of electronics.