Engl 231: Apocalypse & Dystopia A Question of Evil
are the uninfected survivors a totally different species from the zombies they fear? Is the governor s linking of the two (5.85.2) apt? self-interest governor: We can learn so much from them, y know just by watching them. They ve been at it [eating] all night. They just don t stop they re resilient. They eat until it s gone and then they re content. I almost admire them. The thing you have to realize is that they re just us they re no different. They want what they want, they take what they want, they take what they want and after they get what they want they re only content for the briefest span of time. Then they want more (5.85.2). governor, to Glen, of actions: The same reason anybody does anything... to get something I want (5.104.5).
are the uninfected survivors a totally different species from the zombies they fear? Is the governor s linking of the two (5.85.2) apt? primacy of personal safety Doctor Stephens, of the governor: Whatever else he does... he keeps these people safe. That s enough for most people. As long as there s a wall between them and the biters they re not too concerned with who s with them on their side of the wall (5.108.6). Alice: So this prison you guys live at is it safe? I know we all hate the governor and that horrible town but I was able to sleep at night without worrying about an attack. Probably should have brought it up before but I d hate to lose that (6.81.1).
are the uninfected survivors a totally different species from the zombies they fear? Is the governor s linking of the two (5.85.2) apt? disinterest Rick, to Alice: You re right. Most people don t pay attention... to anything. They just cruise through life worrying so much about their own b.s. they don t even notice the things that are happening around them (6.21.5-6). Hershel: But the world ain t exactly full of things that make sense anymore now is it? Lori: When did it ever? Hershel: Yeah. Maybe we were just fooling ourselves until something happened that was big enough to make us stop and realize how crazy our world really is (6.123.3-5).
are the uninfected survivors a totally different species from the zombies they fear? Is the governor s linking of the two (5.85.2) apt? animal-like Rick, to Martinez: calls Woodbury citizens animals given what they do for entertainment: You re not getting it, Martinez! Don t you know what people are capable of? Martinez, dying as Rick strangles him onehanded: I m starting... I m... I think I m getting... the idea (6.119.3-4). Rick, of Martinez: Killing him made me realize something made me notice how much I ve changed. I used to be a trained police officer my job was to uphold the law. Now I feel more like a lawless savage an animal. I killed a man today and I don t even care. I did it for what I think were the right reasons. I haven t even thought about it past that (6.129.5).
Are some people motivated primarily by the desire to wield power/control over others, independent of any secondary gains?
The Desire for Power Our pockets were full of deng, so there was no real need from the point of view of casting any more pretty polly to tolchock some old neck in an alley and giddy him swim in his blood while we counted the takings and divided by four, nor to do the ultraviolent on some shivering starry grey-haired pittas in a shop and go smacking off with the till s guts. But as they say, money isn t everything (4). Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange (1962) [odd vocab. in Nadsat slang derived from Russian]
The Desire for Power Will you understand, Winston, that no one whom we bring to this place ever leaves our hands uncured? We are not interested in those stupid crimes that you have committed. The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about. We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them (253). George Orwell s 1984 (1949)
what options for entertainment exist at the prison? At Woodbury? 5.102 Carl & Sophia play cards Rick misses music (5.3.5) Lori daydreams of screening movies on DVD (5.30.6); the movie s library has tons of bad comedies (5.126.4) gladiatorial contests at Woodbury rely on audience eagerness for minor bloodshed and occasional loss to zombie (5.68.2, 5.70.3-4, 6.18.2-5) checking out screens displaying decapitated heads (5.102)
does Rick s new disability prevent him from acting decisively and effectively? can t use his right hand much yet except for punching people (5.18.8) right hand forcibly removed by governor (5.75, 5.89) family s reaction (6.100) Tyreese notes that Rick is disabled though he can fire a gun, he doesn t have a hand to push away zombies if they get too close 5.89 elbowing them requires dangerous proximity (6.100.4). 5.89 Rick upset but later admits he s right (6.102.3).
what new possibilities for family formation are proffered in today s reading? Which seem sustainable, and which untenable or unhealthy? Model #1: Dale, Andrea, & Allen s twin boys (5.36.1-5, 5.59.1-4, 5.59.5) Model #2: Romantic Threesome Carol, Lori, & Rick: know it seems weird now but we don t have to follow the old rules, we can make new ones. We could all be happy together (5.42.3). Lori s response: 5.47.6-5.48.2, 5.48.3) Model #3: Governor, Public Daddy to town s kids (5.96.2), the bums (5.96.4-5) 5.97.1-5 Model #4: Governor, Father of the Dead incl. his daughter (5.97-100, 5.98.1-6), and the decapitated heads he enjoys gazing at while relaxing (5.101-102)
a number of the women in this novel prove themselves quite forward when it comes to sexual intimacy. Does their own sexual aggression match that of the men? female desire Lori Carol Michonne Maggie male desire Dale Glenn Tyreese the governor 5.119.1-7 Billy & Otis (5.119.4-5)
why does Michonne cry on 6.59? [see 5.94.3]
does Michonne s apparent mental illness compromise her reliability and decision-making skills? talking to self about liking new group (4.66.1-4); denies she was speaking when questioned by Andrea (4.67-68) wisely spins tale to governor, before he shows his true colors, about their traveling since the turn (5.64.1); Rick follows her lead (6.54.3) tied up, tries to talk self into courage and strength to break free (5.86.1-5) reaction to mutilating governor (6.59-60) 5.107 asked by Rick if she killed him, she appears flummoxed by the qstn (6.67.1). When pressed, says she s uncertain (6.69.1). Glenn & Rick decide to keep an eye on her (6.69.5)
is Rick justified in his actions towards Martinez (6.117)?
does the presence of the living constitute an intrinsic good when one is constantly threatened by the dead? Lori s initial suspicions about Tyreese (2.14.5-7) grief-stricken Hershel s ousting of Rick s group (2.121) Lori s fear of those inside prison exceeds anxiety about zombies (4.31.2) Rick s optimism about prospect of another sizable group of survivors, upon finding deserted helicopter (5.51.1) 5.62.1-3 Woodbury, set up by Martinez (guard and, later, spy) as the last little town on earth (5.62.3)
does the relationship of Glen and Maggie provide the tale with a ray of hope concerning the future of humanity and, dare one hope, civilization? Rick s observation of their happiness (5.22.3) Glen finds wedding ring amidst corpses (6.108.1-7) Glen receives Hershel s blessing (6.124.1-7) Maggie accepts proposal, suggests her father conduct the ceremony (6.128.16) 6.108
consider the following questions as they apply to our various course texts: how do women and men each handle prolonged separation from the opposite sex? does love (romantic or otherwise) conquer all? does our species' love affair with conflict and violence tend to survive dramatic changes to society? what characteristics most clearly distinguish humanity from the rest of animal life? Do these characteristics tend to grow, diminish, disappear, or evolve under the pressures of largescale, global catastrophe?
consider the following questions as they apply to our various course texts: do human reason and the scientific method provide consistently useful and timely answers for life-threatening questions? is the human imagination powerful enough to create convincing alternatives to reality alternatives that provide either healthy escapism or actual modes of salvation? does the distressed individual adhere to some hardwired ethical code when organized institutions of government, religion, education, and the family no longer exist to reinscribe traditional law and morality?
consider the following questions as they apply to our various course texts: does religious faith provide a reliable refuge when the world falls apart? does Nature prove more of a friend or an adversary to those in great need? does human nature provide the raw materials for the species salvation, or its destruction?