First Draft Resistance is when the colonized tries to defend themselves against the oppressor. It also may be considered as a means of objecting for those who are impotent. The presence of politics in literature was described as being “a pistol shot in the middle of a concert’ according to Stendhal. This description is completely applied on resistance literature which is considered a political activity. Barbara Harlow maintained in her book Resistance Literature that the writer and critic Ghassan Kanafani mentioned the term “resistance”, with reference to literature, for the first time in his study Literature of Resistance in Occupied Palestine: 1948-1966. Resistance literature is divided by critics according to the conditions under they were written into two categories: under occupation and in exile. Literature is characterized as “an arena of struggle.” (Harlow) …show more content…
It calls for justice and raises awareness of an issue, its aim is not sympathy or pity. Furthermore, it helps in forming identity. It can be expressed through literature, arts, theatre, posters, puppet shows and paintings that criticize the government. Resistance literature is a kind of cultural resistance in which the oppressed people try to combat the tyranny in their writings such as poems, novels and plays. It is also considered as a challenge to the imposed culture by the colonized. It is a means of protest for those who are powerless. It shows the suppressed spirit. Resistance literature is an expression of rebellion and it can be represented in various
By using his dystopian fiction, Bradbury is able to create a fictional, but realistic world, allowing the reader to see what grim future awaits should his issue remain unresolved. Once the reader knows more about their bleak future, he or she will be more proactive in combating the issue. Conversely, Henry speaks to his audience rather than present his arguments in a textual format because he wants to personally encourage revolution and form a direct connection with the people. Only then will his audience be able to make a stand. In contemporary society, we must all examine how we feel on the inside in order to decide if we want to tackle an issue or not: When, if ever, is the right time to challenge authority?
(389) Immediately, any American citizen is directly touched by this statement, and it gives a sense of truth and realization. Thoreau is aiming to challenge the status quo; the understanding that the government is responsible for any success of the country. For several people, he actually seemed to draw a sense of anger and resentment toward the government, which was exactly his goal. Emotional appeal is a major factor in making Civil Disobedience a timeless literary
What literary devices did Chavez really use for his argument about nonviolence resistance? Although Chavez uses a variety of literary terms, he uses Logos, the appeal to logic and senses, and aphorism, which is a belief that expresses a truth or principle of life. Chavez uses Logos to bring his point that violent protests not only take away or injure innocent people, but actually may end up hurting your cause in general as it can lower “morale” in those who do support your cause. It can also make those who wish to support your cause not to due to your idea’s violent reactions to your opposition and what they stand for. “If we resort to violence then one of two things will happen: either the violence will be escalated and there will be many
Words are the most compelling drugs used by humanity. In “Resistance to Civil Government” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Thoreau and King showed that if words are used properly in society, they can make a difference. Injustice is a huge deal for both Thoreau and King. They talked about their beliefs and told people to stand up for themselves in the government. If they really want something, they need to speak up, no matter what the consequence will be.
Racial issues and injustices in the United States are examined in both of Oden’s anthologies, “California Politics” and “Rivers of Struggle and Resistance.” The introduction in “California Politics” mainly discusses current political issues and how they have influenced the underrepresented ethnic minorities in California. On the other hand, “Rivers of Struggle and Resistance” focuses on the history of discrimination and oppression that haunt the African American society for several decades. Although both anthologies explores and examine similar themes, the introduction in “Rivers of Struggle and Resistance” related more to Michael Goldfield’s “The Color of Politics” excerpt.
Lois Lowry once said, “Submitting to censorship is to enter the… world where choice has been taken away and reality distorted. And that is the most dangerous world of all.” This quote perfectly explains the major theme of Fahrenheit 451, which is censorship. Due to the use of censorship by the government, people in this society are unable to form their own opinions, make their own choices, and are forced to live with distorted realities of the world they actually live in.
The early 1900s were a time of widespread social and political change in America. During this time, many Americans adopted new, more modern ideas about labor, cultural diversity and city life. Some of these Progressive ideas were brought about by the need for reform in the workplace due to the grown of large companies and rapid industrialization. Not everyone supported the ideas of the Progressive Movement, however. Anti-Progressives, especially in the South, preferred traditional, rural lifestyles, and a slower, simpler way of living.
In the passage from "Civil Disobedience," the author, Thoreau, utilizes rhetorical devices to support his theme. Such devices include tone and diction. The theme expressed in the text is that the government is in need of change and acceptance, not a replacement. The author conveys a serious and professional tone throughout the passage. This helps add more to the seriousness of the subject and theme created which is the government needs change and acceptance, not a replacement.
In Ray Bradbury’s book Farenheit 451, it is illegal to own books, and society deems people who “think” and “question” unfit and those people are wanted by the government. In the novel, Bradbury ironically pictures firemen as a group of men who create fires, and the people who “think” and “question” are killed. In this book themes of conformity verses individuality, importance of remembering and understanding history, and freedom of speech and the consequences of losing it. These three thematic ideas are major factors that contributed to how the society’s everyday life is executed.
They propose that literature contains too much emotion and can therefore upset readers or cause controversy. Although the government wants people to be happy, their underlying motive is for the public to be dim-witted, vacuous and institutionalised. Literature contains all the ideas that oppose what they want in their people, such as art, science, religion, philosophy and natural beauty, so they forbid it and employ firemen to burn every book. The government in Fahrenheit 451 does not believe in the aesthetic and creative value of books, but instead that it is a source of material that can
He does so specifically with examples that resonate with the audience. For instance, as he attempts to persuade listeners to consider revolting against the government, he uses a real-life example: All men recognize... the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now. But such was the case, they think, in the Revolution Of '75... when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole
Fahrenheit 451 a novel written by Ray Bradbury highlighted the idea of censorship,the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, flims,nes, etc. that are considered obscene , politically unacceptbl or a threat to security. Censorship wasn’t theony themei this book it also largley highlight that people are willing to die for what they believe in.
Books are generally banned or challenged because a person or group objects the main idea or portions of the book. The banning removes the material from the community whereas a challenge is an attempt to ban a book in an area, and these book bannings are often considered a violation of freedom of speech. An example of a book that was banned is 1984 by George Orwell. This book involves the titular character Winston, and his accomplice, Julia, attempting to take down a monolithic government that surveils everyone’s movements. Within the story, Winston had the job of changing previous news to
“Throughout time, literature has been used as an instrument to revolt against social and political issues” This quote explains how literature has been used through out all these years and how it used violent action against an established government issues. A successful totalitarian government is when they have total control and access of the citizens and their social and personal life. Freedom is non existing if ruled under a totalitarian government. They rule through fear and only target on a specific religion and belief.
Thoreau explains that the state and societies prison “never intentionally confronts a man’s sense, intellectual or moral, but only his body, his senses. It is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength” and furthermore that he “was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion” (1990). Therefore, Resistance to Civil Government is validating that prison is confinement and conformity, however, Thoreau will not be conforming to any such conformist state and neither should the reader. Thoreau finally reinforces that he is “not responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society” and that “if a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so man” (1990), Thoreau is explicating that society needs to be responsible for its self and become self-reliant, just as an individual should be, because it is the nature of the world and society and if it cannot live as such then it will not continue