In 1984, the citizens had to use Newspeak, or else they were committing a "thought crime." Basically, everything was opposite then it was described as. For example, the Ministry of Plenty is where they rationed goods, and the Ministry of Love is where they actually tortured people. Also, they would add suffixes such as "-ful" and "-wise" to their words. In 1984, it was said that their language got smaller every year. This enabled everything from the past to be erased.
In the beginning of the book, Winston struggled to remember if his life was always like the way it was in 1984, where everything was extremely strict. Winston knew he had to write down his thoughts or else they could possibly banish.
Doublespeak is often used in our language today. For example, "not doing so well" instead of sick/ill, "unique" instead of weird, etc. Personally, I would prefer to hear things like this rather than hearing something that could potentially upset me.
If you had the opportunity to write in a journal in Winston's position, would you? How would you feel if you struggled to remember things from your past?
Friday, December 18, 2015
1984 - Similarities in Government
In 1984, The Party uses many forms of manipulation to get into the heads' of their citizens. The telescreen in peoples' homes which constantly play propaganda which made The Party seem successful. Citizens are continuously reminded about The Party with big posters of Big Brother. Also, The Party has wires that can be tapped and can hear conversation throughout homes.
Today, our government uses doublespeak to make our country seem successful. Citizens are constantly reminded about the government from the news and other forms of media. Also, the
government is able to tap into phone calls, the internet, etc.
Is there really a difference?
Friday, October 23, 2015
Like No Other at first glance
Devorah is raised an extremely strict Hasidic Jew. Before reading this book, I truthfully had no idea Hasidism existed. I looked into it more and read an article called Hasidic Women in the United States. To me, Devorah, and many other Hasidic women, seem to be treated unfair. As her and Jaxon talk in the elevator, she thinks "I feel a flash of jealousy. Jaxon will graduate high school, just like me, but he'll get to decide where he wants to go and and what he wants to do with his life, while my parents will go to the shadchan to find me a husband, whether I'm ready or not" (LaMarche 50). A shadchan is a Jewish "professional" match maker or marriage broker. Devorah also thinks, "Forget that my grades are better than either of my older brothers' ever were. Forget that I study English and math and science, much more well-rounded than their almost entirely religious education. It is simply expected that my education will end when I am married" (LaMarche 50). Devorah is also not allowed to talk to strangers, or be alone with any man other than her father or brothers. "My parents would disown me if they knew we were talking" (LaMarche 51).
Jaxon, also a junior in high school, as well as the son of Caribbean immigrants, lives on the black side of the Eastern Parkway with four younger sisters in New York City, whereas Devorah lives on the Orthodox only park of the neighborhood. After being in the elevator with Devorah, he compares her to a girl he liked from school, Polly. "I've been trying to create chance encounters with Polly for more than a year, doing dumb shit like standing outside her physics so that I could 'pretend' to bump into her, or strategically positioning myself close to her at school danced so that I could be the one she turned to when a slow song started. But just now, with Devorah– that was the opposite of planned. That felt real. And suddenly, I'm filled with dread that I'll never feel it again" (LaMarche 56).
So far I think this book is definitely different from the cliche books I'm used to reading. It throws in a real life twist that has educated me about a different culture from what I'm used to living.
Does this book interest you? If so, why?
Character development for Devorah
All of her life, Devorah has been sheltered and caged from the world outside of her Hasidic neighborhood. She wasn't allowed to associate herself with someone who is "not her people," the saying for which her dad calls people of other ethnic groups, cultures, etc. "They're not like us. And they don't like us. Understand?" Devorah has been told how to live her own life, and without choice, is left to marry a random man and have a child at 18.
Since Devorah has met Jaxon, she has been out of her comfort zone. She has been going behind her parents' back and most importantly, has been breaking her religion. Being alone with any man, besides her family members, is threatening to break her virtue and is considered a violation is "yichud." Yichud laws say that a man and a woman who are not married are not allowed to be in a secluded and/or private area. Just being alone with Jaxon and saying hello could mean Devorah's whole community, including her own family, would shun and disown her. Devorah, the girl who was afraid to break the rules, is suddenly risking losing everything she has ever known.
Another thing changing about Devorah is that she's beginning to become more curious. She has came to realization that her religion is unfair, and unlike her brothers and every other male in her culture, she does not get to choose her own path. After high school, Devorah will be chosen a husband, a man she has never know or even met, and she will have children and raise a family because that is what she's "supposed" to do. After browsing through facebook wrongfully, Devorah came across a girl who she used to know named Ruchy. The neighborhood always gossiped about her, which made Devorah believe that Ruchy was excommunicated from her family, until Devorah came across a picture of Ruchy, her new boyfriend, a baby, and her parents. "My own slideshow starts playing in my mind: Me in a cap and gown, not from high school but from college. Maybe even nursing school, so that I could become a nurse-midwife, so that I could take care of scared Hasidic women like my sister and Ruchy. Then, me and Jaxon, holding hands in public, posing with my family. Jaxon and Shabbos dinner, lighting a candle. Our sisters playing together. Could my parents ever accept a different path for me" (LaMarche 139).
I believe it is okay for Devorah to be curious. Being sheltered and being forced to ignore things outside of her neighborhood and religion is wrong, and being a 16-year-old girl, she can't help but to be curious. It is okay for a teenage girl to want to graduate college and choose her own path without worrying about whether her parents and family still love her or not. In my opinion, it is extremely wrong and unfair, and maybe one day she will be able to show everybody who she really is.
This article talks about a 25-year-old who was married at 17 and was told she had to start a large family right away. After having her own opinions, she decided to break free from her religion. She describes her old religion an the things she had to do as "disgusting." I think if Devorah was a real person, this article would help her see that she is not the only one who is curious about the world outside of her religion, and she is not the only Hasidic who wants to choose her own path.
Since Devorah has met Jaxon, she has been out of her comfort zone. She has been going behind her parents' back and most importantly, has been breaking her religion. Being alone with any man, besides her family members, is threatening to break her virtue and is considered a violation is "yichud." Yichud laws say that a man and a woman who are not married are not allowed to be in a secluded and/or private area. Just being alone with Jaxon and saying hello could mean Devorah's whole community, including her own family, would shun and disown her. Devorah, the girl who was afraid to break the rules, is suddenly risking losing everything she has ever known.
Another thing changing about Devorah is that she's beginning to become more curious. She has came to realization that her religion is unfair, and unlike her brothers and every other male in her culture, she does not get to choose her own path. After high school, Devorah will be chosen a husband, a man she has never know or even met, and she will have children and raise a family because that is what she's "supposed" to do. After browsing through facebook wrongfully, Devorah came across a girl who she used to know named Ruchy. The neighborhood always gossiped about her, which made Devorah believe that Ruchy was excommunicated from her family, until Devorah came across a picture of Ruchy, her new boyfriend, a baby, and her parents. "My own slideshow starts playing in my mind: Me in a cap and gown, not from high school but from college. Maybe even nursing school, so that I could become a nurse-midwife, so that I could take care of scared Hasidic women like my sister and Ruchy. Then, me and Jaxon, holding hands in public, posing with my family. Jaxon and Shabbos dinner, lighting a candle. Our sisters playing together. Could my parents ever accept a different path for me" (LaMarche 139).
I believe it is okay for Devorah to be curious. Being sheltered and being forced to ignore things outside of her neighborhood and religion is wrong, and being a 16-year-old girl, she can't help but to be curious. It is okay for a teenage girl to want to graduate college and choose her own path without worrying about whether her parents and family still love her or not. In my opinion, it is extremely wrong and unfair, and maybe one day she will be able to show everybody who she really is.
This article talks about a 25-year-old who was married at 17 and was told she had to start a large family right away. After having her own opinions, she decided to break free from her religion. She describes her old religion an the things she had to do as "disgusting." I think if Devorah was a real person, this article would help her see that she is not the only one who is curious about the world outside of her religion, and she is not the only Hasidic who wants to choose her own path.
How would you feel if you were Devorah? Would you follow your religion and do as your told? Would you want to rebel?
How does city life impact the story?
In the New York City, there is always a place for everybody. The streets are flooded and packed with people of all different races, cultures, lifestyles, purposes, etc. Everybody may seem to be in one area, but they can still be divided. Devorah and Jaxon both live in Eastern Parkway: Devorah lives in streets filled with Hasidics, while Jaxon's neighborhood is filled with African Americans. The two sides NEVER meet because of race riots that happened in 1991, and even though it has been 20+ years later, the two sides never get along. Due to Devorah's religion and the racial discrimination, Devorah and Jaxon's feelings seem impossible to go in to full affect.In the city, everything is easily accessible by foot. This made Devorah sneaking around to meet Jaxon way easier because she did not have to rely on anybody for transportation. Devorah simply lied and said she was going to the hospital to see her sister, and her parents did not even question about it.
If the story were to not take place in the city, things would definitely be different. I would think that there would be less and racism between the blacks and the Hasidics. Also, news would not spread as quickly. If Devorah were to get caught with Jaxon, news would not be passed through her people, and she would not have to worry about ruining her family's reputation in the Hasidic community because not ever Hasidic is together in one area.
Is this book for everyone?
Like No Other is a great book because it educates people on real life instances and situations. These type of things are really happening in our world. Both Jaxon and Devorah are facing issues and this book can make someone realize they are not alone. Jaxon everyday faces racism because of his skin color. Being a black teenager in New York City automatically makes people stereotype him. "People have enough reasons not to like you based on how you look; don't give them anymore based on how you act" (LarMarche 177). Devorah is faced with the daily challenge of trying to mask her thoughts and doubts about her religion and her family's lifestyle. "It's silly. It's not just unrealistic to fall in love before marriage, it's destructive to our faith. Because to have romantic thought bout someone before being joined by G-d constitutes a sin, and a union based on sin is be definition unholy" (LaMarche 186). Not only is this book educational, but it is also relatable. Teenagers are pressed everyday to fit an image for their parents, just like Devorah is. Also, many people have to face the daily challenge of fighting racism, discrimination, and stereotyping, just how Jaxon is. I would say this book is a good read if you like a twist on a romance novel. To me, this book seems like a modern day Romeo and Juliet, where just like Romeo and Juliet, Jaxon and Devorah's love is forbidden.
Would you like to live in the city? If so, why?
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