Power of will and choice - Research Paper Example

Power of will and choice Literature as pieces of art has over ages been used to communicate various themes and concepts within human cultures as well as the social set-ups (Sutherland, 1-10). In such a manner, every piece of literature is prepared with particular regard on catchy issues, which are often referred to as the thematic concern or topic of the literary work (Braiman, 1-7). Among many other works of literature we have studied are ‘the hunger games’ by Suzanne and ‘twilight’ by Myer which are all topical and hence the following analysis. Books of literature are normally written to communicate certain topics as shown and the two books are no exception. This paper therefore intends to analyze the thematic representations these two books as they are written in the contemporary US environment. Our analysis revolves around the theme of power in choice as presented within the two books. Power dynamics within the ‘hunger games’ is seen through the eyes of two young persons engaged in the games which are conducted annually with a motive of selecting the district to which food aid would be advanced. The plotting of the story covers the disparity in power between formerly thirteen districts but currently twelve and the capitol, which ideally represents power (Collins, 3-18). The capital district capitol represents the source of power or influence and which is depicted to rule over the rest of the districts. Poverty, hunger and general misery is shown to dominate the twelve districts while great wealth and technological advancement is what characterizes the capitol district. As a way of executing the power, the capitol district invents a mechanism through which food and such other humanitarian aid would be advanced to the rest of the districts through the hunger games, which are conducted annually. Every district therefore selects young representatives who would participate in fighting contests and the winner defines the district, which will receive the food aid over the year. The capitol district is therefore shown to have the capacity and power to advance food aid to the rest of the districts at will though this is not the case. The program to involve the districts in the hunger games is shown through the literature to be informed by the selfish ambitions of the power district to rule through oppression. Totalitarian governance in the country is the main thematic depiction of the book, which shows how capitol adopts the games in order to punish the twelve districts because of rebellion in the past, which lead to destruction of the thirteen districts. Besides, the fights, which are televised, serve as entertainment to the capitol while at the same time conveying the message of capitol’s power as well as lack of remorse towards the twelve districts. In fact, this is therefore a clear depiction of power influence and the theme of wrong choices as contrasted with good choices. To begin with, the adoption of such annual games has historically been developed from the fateful rebellion, which led to total destruction of the thirteenth district after all the districts within the country chose to revolt against capitol and its rule. Choice was therefore involved in the decision and the capitol district equally chose to retract through so much power that led to total destruction of one of the districts. Besides, out of choice, the capitol district and its power devised the games, which involve young adults who are selected through lottery to participate. Besides the games being entertaining to the capitol dwellers, they serve as memorial to the power of the capitol district as well as the capitols lack of remorse. It is therefore worth noting that capitol had the capacity to help other districts without engaging them into such deadly wars and rule effectively through equal regard to all persons. This is not however the case as revealed through the mechanisms adopted to exert authority towards the natives of the rest of the districts. Nevertheless, the choice in love of Katniss Everdeen, sixteen years old girl to voluntary participate in the games instead of her sister who was to represent twelfth district in the games reveals great love and the power of choice. The book is therefore successful in contrasting the theme of power of choices, which individuals and governments would make. On the other hand, free will as well as choice are major thematic depictions by Myer in her book ‘twilight’ (Meyer, 1-260). It is a serial novel, which depicts the theme of free will in choosing as shown through romantic love between a mortal human being and the supernatural vampires and werewolves. Bella Swan is the main fictional figure within the story where she moves to Washington from Phoenix where she meets and falls in love with Edward Cullen who happens to be a vampire. Despite the notable big difference in the nature of the two figures, the love thrives where Bella intentionally decides to marry Edward and Edward intentionally decides to protect Bella even against fellow vampires like James. A specialty with the group of vampires from which Edward came from was that they drank animal blood as against human beings but just as the rest of the monsters had the capacity to visualize what people thought. The vampires would be better understood through the context of werewolves and such monsters, which are shown through literature to poses supernatural powers against human beings. History has it that the existence of werewolves could be traced quite far back though some writers especially within the Roman culture would question the question many years after the claim. However, the existence of these beasts was not exclusive as other forms of these supernatural species were evident with the other forms such as the dog-headed men, vampires as well as the Cynocephali. Nevertheless, discussions in favor for or against the character of these species would lack definite position as these, unlike the werewolves would be friendly and or dangerous to human beings. However, the contradiction notable within the traditional scope of witchcraft and werewolves was that though witchcraft had some notable attention within the learned circles, werewolves had no regard within these circles whatsoever (Husic, 1-2). The subscription of humans to faith systems are evident through the religious framework as they are seen right from early periods of civilizations with evolutionally changes instrumental in explaining the current day’s faiths and believe systems. In a particular attention, history of the human culture revolves around the existence of ‘super human’ beings that had powers to be transformed into beasts and thus command great fear and terror among the human beings. The werewolves (though referred to differently from a place to another) are among other species of living creatures, which roamed the dark forests as well as within the dark of the nights and which, according to many societies, were very deadly and dangerous (Regel, 1-5). Communities and social groups developed legends which would explain the existence of these werewolves, they way to fight them and ways to kill them as they were seen to kill people. Many cultures in the tradition had much ascription to the faith of existence of these beings, traces that are existent even in the present day era. Nevertheless, in spite of such an understanding, the twilight depicts power to choose between human beings and vampires. This book therefore successfully illustrates the theme of romance and love through the power of will and choice where the main characters go against the odds in acknowledging love over the outright difference in natures (Foucault, 81-120). Human beings have the capacity to make choice and all life is therefore characterized by decision-making and choices. It is therefore worth noting that choices are inevitable in human societies but the outcome of the choices differs. The choices made by the capital administration are inhuman and wrong while those involved in the romantic relationship between a vampire and human being in twilight are relatively beneficial. Nevertheless, choices and power of will are clear thematic depictions in the two works of literature in context. Works cited Braiman, Jay, Literary devices. 2007. Print. 10 December 2013 https://kohner.wikispaces.com/file/view/LITERARY+DEVICES.pdf Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print Foucault, Michael. The History of Sexuality. New York: Pantheon Books, nd. Print. Husic, Geoff. A Vampire by Any Other Name Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches of the Slavs, Balkan Peoples and other Lands: A Linguistic and Cultural Adventure; Slavic & Special Languages Librarian University of Kansas Libraries Exhibition in Watson Library. Print. 10 December 2013 http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/bitstream/1808/6213/3/vampire_exhibit_catalog_2010.pdf Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York Boston: little, brown and company, 2005. Print Regel, Brian. Where have all the werewolves gone? Did the arrival of Darwin's theory of evolution put paid to a widespread belief in half-human creatures? Fortean times, Web. 10 December 2013 http://www.forteantimes.com/features/articles/3061/where_have_all_the_werewolves_gone.html Sutherland, Robert D. Hidden?persuaders:?political?ideologies?In?literature?for?children.1985. ?Children’s?Literature?in?Education,16(3): 143?157 Read More