The Proposed Classic 1
1984 by George Orwell
Themes:
- Power of language
- Personal freedom
- Abuse of technology
- Power relationships
The Proposed Alternative 1
Feed by M. T. Anderson (2002)
Theme Connector
Feed is set in the new future where most Americans have a feed, a neural online interface, installed at a young age that influences almost every aspect of their life. The central character, Titus, meets a young woman, Violet, who encourages him to rebel against the status quo, much like how Julia encourages Winston Smith to do the same.
Throughout the course of the novel, the evolution of language plays a major role in how the characters view the world around them, just as Newspeak has the similar role in 1984. The major difference between the two is that while Winston rebels against government and bureaucracy, Titus is pitted against a consumerist society. His life changed having met Violet, Titus must decide whether he should fight the feed, if he can.
Rational for Feed
Other Books with Similar Themes:
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
Feed is set in the new future where most Americans have a feed, a neural online interface, installed at a young age that influences almost every aspect of their life. The central character, Titus, meets a young woman, Violet, who encourages him to rebel against the status quo, much like how Julia encourages Winston Smith to do the same.
Throughout the course of the novel, the evolution of language plays a major role in how the characters view the world around them, just as Newspeak has the similar role in 1984. The major difference between the two is that while Winston rebels against government and bureaucracy, Titus is pitted against a consumerist society. His life changed having met Violet, Titus must decide whether he should fight the feed, if he can.
Rational for Feed
Other Books with Similar Themes:
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
The Proposed Classic 2
Frankenstein Mary Shelley (1818)
Themes:
- Love and acceptance
- Ethics in science/society
- Father-Son relationship
- Role of names
- Self-identification
The Proposed Alternative 2
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (2002)
Theme Connector
In The House of the Scorpion, Matteo Alacran grows up in Opium, a small country between America and Mexico which is responsible for producing the majority of the world's opium. Matt lives an easy life until he is recognized as a clone; he exists only to provide organs for the original Matteo Alacran, the 143 year old drug lord who rules Opium.
Matt is totally unaware of his fate and struggles to find his identity in a world where clones are seen as far less than human. Much like Frankenstein, Matt's story deals heavily with ethics in both science and society; to what degree do humans have the right to create (and destroy) a life? The role of names plays a major part too, as Matt must decide if his name will define him or if he can be his own individual, just as the Creature's lack of a name is part of his overall identity.
Other Books with Similar Themes:
1. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History & Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (1986)
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)
In The House of the Scorpion, Matteo Alacran grows up in Opium, a small country between America and Mexico which is responsible for producing the majority of the world's opium. Matt lives an easy life until he is recognized as a clone; he exists only to provide organs for the original Matteo Alacran, the 143 year old drug lord who rules Opium.
Matt is totally unaware of his fate and struggles to find his identity in a world where clones are seen as far less than human. Much like Frankenstein, Matt's story deals heavily with ethics in both science and society; to what degree do humans have the right to create (and destroy) a life? The role of names plays a major part too, as Matt must decide if his name will define him or if he can be his own individual, just as the Creature's lack of a name is part of his overall identity.
Other Books with Similar Themes:
1. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History & Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (1986)
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)
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