In Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer consistently refers to the enhanced and seemingly “unnatural” purity of Area X. This is particularly curious and the concept of Area X being pristine has come up in class several times. The conversation held around the topic have been incredibly interesting: discussing the irony of Area X’s perfection, the juxtaposition of contamination and immaculacy, and the concept of humanity being what is unclean and corruptive have all added to my experience of VanderMeer’s confusing and mysterious world. One relationship that we have not yet discussed but I now believe is crucial to understanding the novel is the connection between the biologist’s “flame” and the question of purity. Fire, in literature and otherwise,
is often closely related to purity, or seen as a cleansing, purging element. It seems that VanderMeer is using the flame in the biologist in the same way, clarifying the message that has underlied all of Annihilation: that humanity is the true contagion and infection of the Earth. The “brightness infecting” the biologist is constantly brought up as Area X grows within her, and has blessed her with heightened senses and a feeling of connectedness with the environment (VanderMeer pg. 86). The brightness consuming the biologist represents the naturality of Area X burning out the destructive humanity. As the biologist’s journal comes to a close, she mentions that “the brightness is not done with me. It is just beginning, and the thought of continually doing harm to myself to remain human seems somehow pathetic” (VanderMeer pg. 199). With this last mention of the brightness, it becomes more clear that the fire burning inside of the biologist was purifying the humanity within her, creating the pristinity of area X. VanderMeer furthers the point, adding that in order to stay human, she must act in a manner that is self-toxic and destructive. We are left believing that the ability to save the world from the environmental crisis caused by humans is not something humanity does not posses, in other words, “Our instruments are useless, our methodology broken, our motivations selfish” (VanderMeer pg. 197).
Using “eradicating” is an example of amplifying and emotional diction. “Eradicating” is too powerful for something that merely “annoys.” The hyperbole “eradicating” and understatement “annoys” work together to ridicule what the farmers are doing and shock Carson’s audience. This comparison is used throughout the first part of the excerpt. Carson states, “a slight change in agricultural practices” to make a suggestion for what the farmers could have done. She follows that with “sent the planes on their mission of death.” Yet another understatement followed by a hyperbole reveals the excessive, unnecessary solution chosen by the
Saukko , Linnea.“How to Poison the Earth.”The Brief Bedford Reader. Bedford/St.Martin’s Boston: 9th edition ,2006.246-247.
...kes a great argument showing us how the positive results outweigh the negative. Contamination isn’t so bad after all.
Americans had knowledge of the events taking place during the war, but Carson shed a light on the ripple effects that the environment was experiencing. Silent Spring brings the focus to different threats that had arisen because of the war. In a way, Carson places the blame for the deterioration of the environment on mankind as a whole. In the past, wars had been fought without any use of nuclear weaponry. Carson’s writing really emphasizes the fault of mankind’s decision to hurt the environment. “Along with the possibility of extinction of mankind by nuclear war, the central problem of our age has therefore become the contamination of man’s total environment with such substances of incredible potential for harm – substances that accumulate in the tissues of plants and animals and even penetrate the germ cells to shatter or alter the very material of heredity upon which the shape of the future depends.” (Carson, 181). The writing technique Carson uses in Silent Spring has a way of making the reader feel guilty, especially considering that at the time of publication there was so much environmental destruction occurring. Carson’s writing helped to educate the American population of the harm to the environment caused by the Cold War. Because the war’s dangerous strategies provided such a strong backbone for Carson’s argument, the American public was very receptive of the content and themes presented in Silent
"Women Beware Science: 'The Birthmark.'." Short Story Criticism, edited by Rachelle Mucha and Thomas J. Schoenberg, vol. 89, Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420071520/LitRC?u=troy25957&sid=LitRC&xid=268bd900. Accessed 8 Dec. 2017. Originally published in Critical Essays on Hawthorne's Short Stories, edited by Albert J. von Frank, G. K. Hall & Co., 1991, pp. 164-172.
In "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hawthorne explores the theme science versus nature through Aylmer, who exemplifies the “man of [scientific]” knowledge (Hawthorne 211). Georgiana, on the other hand, is naïve to the science of her husband and would much rather leave nature alone, as seen when she is asked to remove a perfect flower: “It is magical!’ cried Georgiana. ‘I dare not to touch it” (Hawthorne 219). Aylmer creates inventions that manipulate nature for performing miracles; however, Aylmer’s ambitions to strive for human perfection ultimately kill his wife, Georgiana.
The orchestra began with the first piece called Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg which was composed by Richard Wagner and presented in the year 1868. The piece begins with a crescendo piano and strings. The opening bars represent the motive of the Meistersinger (Mastersinger) themselves of the 16th century Nurnberg. The piece starts with main them of the Meistersingers themselves, which can be heard throughout the piece. The beginning creates an atmosphere of peace and a feeling of happiness. The piece was scored for following instruments: one piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals and strings including 1st and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses. After the powerful opening ends, the oboe, flute and the clarinet offer a musical theme representing the character Walter, a stranger who has appeared in Nurnberg. This piece is quickly joined by strings and soon the whole orchestra to make grand and spectacular marching-like music. This ends to reveal a soft and swift music which created an atmosphere of calm and sereneness. The second part of the Prelude begins with a fugal distortion of the Meistersinger theme. This part is made from wind instruments with the strings adding a humorous tinge and other similar effects. The third part begins with the brasses combining to with soon with the orchestra to create a grandiose march-like effect again. Wagner’s sense of humor is apparent in his use of instruments to represents parts which help create an atmosphere of comedy adding much laughter to the piece without ever listening or seeing the play. The music stand alone by itself as its own piece and does not require the play t...
?I have already administered agents powerful enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system. Only one thing remains to be tried. If that fail us we are ruined." (Nathaniel Hawthorne) Out of Nathaniel Hawthorne?s short story ?The Birthmark?, this quote shows the uninterrupted quest to eliminate nature 's flaws through unproven scientific methods, and by doing so, disrupting nature?s divine progression. Hawthorne articulates a story of an eminent chemical scientist, Aylmer, and a wife of great beautify, Georgian, who has a red crimson ?hand-like? stain on her cheek. Shortly after married, Aylmer is alarmed by Georgian?s imperfection then become obsessed to rid Georgian of it. Throughout ?The birthmark?, Hawthorne illustrates man?s lethal devotion to science, although he is temporarily distracted by love; a heroine devoted to her husband; and the ultimate fate the both of them will surrender to.
The male protagonist, Aylmer, is a man of science. His role in the realm of scientific spirituality is aspiring towards what is naturally impossible: the removal of the birthmark. Even though the birthmark may vanish superficially, the obstacle in its eradication is the symbol Aylmer foreshadows as “sin, sorrow, decay and death,”(Hawthorne) nestled within the soul Nature supplies. These attributes Aylmer classifies toward the birthmark are reflected upon himself. He commits the sins of Greed and Wrath through his excessive lust to control nature and his irrepressible hatred against the birthmark.
Too often in this world does man attempt to perfect nature. Tampering with this sort of element most commonly leads to a disaster to come extent. Because man is never satisfied, he is constantly vying for perfection, regardless of the outcome. Such is the case in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, 'The Birthmark.' Aylmer's persistent attempt to perfect nature is the cause of Georgiana's demise and the affirmation that when man tampers with such a powerful component terrible things may occur.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark”, is the story of a crazed scientist whose strive for perfection not only leads to the death of his beautiful wife, but the attempt of man to have power over nature. It follows the story of Aylmer and his obsession with removing the birthmark off his beautiful wife, Georgiana. “His unnatural fixation to his wife’s birthmark even consumes him in his sleep as he dreams of cutting it off much like scraping an apple off its skin.” (Snodgrass 29). This narrative explores the themes of perfection, and the conflict between science and the natural world.
I think man's gradual, creeping contamination of the planet, his sending up of dust into the air, his strontium additive to our bones, his discharge of industrial poisons into rivers that once flowed clear, his mixing of chemicals with fog on the east wind, add up to a fantasy of such grotesque proportions as to make everything said on the subject seem pale and anemic by contrast. (White p.494)
"Science frees us in many ways… from the bodily terror which the savage feels. But she replaces that, in the minds of many, by a moral terror which is far more overwhelming".
Based on Mark Watney’s character, it is bold to state that he played a key role in bringing out the friction between science and the natural world. As a Botanist and Engineer, Watney’s actions are seen to pervert the natural order of creation. However, it is worth noting that this is a reality that we cannot escape. We live in an era where science is the driver of human life. We depend on science to survive more than before. Whereas it is essential to stay grounded to the principles of nature, we cannot completely detach ourselves from science. Watney uses his wit to ‘make water’ (Weir, 22) by separating Hydrogen from Hydrazine and then burning it in the air. This is practical and although it seemingly goes against the natural occurrence of water, it is critical, at least for Watney’s survival. Therefore, attributing his actions to profanity is distorting. The boom has valuable
Kurt Vonneghan through his writing is able to show a dystopia within a utopia by making clever hints and using descriptive language. In the world he has created in “2BR0BR”. From first glance you see a world within a system of a controlled society. Which is not presented until the audience is shown the full story. The start of the story goes into the life of Mr. Wheeling who’s wife is about to have triplets. An achievement to some; only in this world the human population is controlled. Which leaves only one option in order to keep the children. Three people need to take their place. This creates a conflict for our main character Mr.Wehling who ultimately met his fate when he decided to take matters into his own hands. With the society's rules