Senior Newscast: Orwell's Vision Then and Now

Access the videos in this newscast:

• George Orwell – A Final Warning
• Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt Meet in Yalta
• Red Butchers: Stalin Death Squads
• Operation Northwoods Exposed
• Edward Snowden – Short Interview Clip

Text of newscast:

GROUP 1
In George Orwell's publication of "1984," Orwell reveals bits and pieces of his own life by using his own life as a model for the story. Basing the main character Winston Smith on himself and his experiences, Orwell achieves a semi-autobiographical character through which he conveys his own thoughts and beliefs. Today, hundreds if not thousands of journals, articles and books have been written to identify the similarities in Winston Smith's and George Orwell's lives. This alone could attest to the similarities in their lives, but some specific examples are as follows. This character is Winston Smith, a writer, editor and man of the Ministry of Truth (an organization of lies), but sought after truth. George Orwell was a teacher and writer, a man who did not believe in the agendas the government forced upon him. Both Smith's and Orwell's first marriages ended, but both fell back in love later. In addition, Smith's constant cough reminds us of Orwell's terminal tuberculosis. Both men were writers, editors and living in a land where communism and fascism regimes were prevalent. Also, both men ignored their cough and pursued another cigarette (or victory cigarette). By identifying with Smith, Orwell was able to create a believable character that lived a believable life. He projected his view of a terrible future into the world. As an anarchist, Orwell's extreme dystopian world would be one of a totalitarian government with the socialist idea of not truly owning anything. This is revealed in the oppressive government of Oceania with its complete ownership of the land and everything in it. In this way, Orwell's own life is the greatest influence on his story. One can only hope Smith's world never becomes our own.

GROUP 2
Cameron: James Burnham was another influential figure in Orwell’s thought process.

Cortland: Born on November 28, 1905, Burnham grew up in Chicago. He attended Princeton from 1923-1927 and then attended Oxford, receiving his M.A. in 1929.

Cameron: Shortly after this he published several works including the Introduction to Philosophical Analysis.

Cortland: He worked closely with the American Worker’s Party and the Communist League of America.

Cameron: These roles influenced him to write about the development of economics and society in 1941.

Cortland: Orwell was greatly influenced by Burnham, which led him to write an essay called “Second Thoughts on James Burnham”, in this essay he made it known that he strongly agreed with Burnham on some thoughts but also disagreed with him on others.

Cameron: Orwell claimed that Burnham may have been right in identifying the general drift towards oligarchy and the development of the Managerial Class. However, Orwell said Burnham’s error was not seeing this trend as continuing.

Cortland: Orwell refutes Burnham’s assumptions that politics stay the same in all ages and that political behavior is different from other kinds of behavior.

Cameron: When Orwell wrote 1984, he based Oceania after Burnham’s idea of a Managerial State.

Cortland: This was the idea that a central government remained in power regardless of what political party was in charge.

Cameron: Through behavior modification and social programs run by a vague authority, (The Party) these governments ruled all.

Cortland: Another influence on Orwell, when it came to government, was the Tehran Conference. Apparently, Orwell believed that Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt were conspiring to divide the world.

Cameron: This top secret meeting between these leaders was in fact an attempt to reach an agreement between the three and to form a strategy for World War II.


GROUP 3

Another part of history that may have influenced Orwell’s writing of
Nineteen Eighty-Four, was the 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments of the Bill
of Rights. The 5th Amendment states that there is no capital
punishment without due process, and one cannot be a witness against
one’s self. Also an individual cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process. This is contradicted in Orwell’s book
because there was capital punishment and loss of life, liberty, or
property without due process. And the characters that were mentioned
in the book were always a witness against themselves. The 6th
Amendment declares that there should always be a public trial,
everyone should be informed of the crime that was committed, and there
should be a counsel for defense. But as one can see Orwell acts in
opposition towards the 6th Amendment in his book, allowing the Inner
Party members to torture other members secretly with no counsel. And
also no one was informed of the individual’s crime. In the Bill of
Rights, the 8th Amendment demands that, there should be no cruel or
unusual punishments. Once again Orwell thwarted against the Amendment
in his book, he decided to use tyrannical punishments against members
who went against Big Brother, like when Winston was severely shocked
by the electric chair and tortured in Room 101 with the thing he
feared most, rats. Orwell did not only disagree with rules for the
government but he was influenced by a group of individuals that killed
people called the death squad. These death squad members were
associated with one party states, who organized extrajudicial
killings, and contrived disappearances of different individuals for
the purposes of political repression, genocide, or revolutionary
terror. Death squads were directed in killing hundreds of real
suspected Communists. The Soviet Union had used death squads to kill
clergy, intellectuals, and traitors. Orwell relates this act of the
death squad members in Nineteen Eighty-Four by allowing clerics,
intellectuals and traitors to serve until they were no longer needed.
Also the concept of children training to be spies in the book was
formed due to the death squads, so those spies who have already
pledged their duty to Big Brother could turn people in for committing
a thought-crime.

Here is a video that shares Joseph Stalin’s deadly trios accusing
Russians of political crimes which led millions to death.
For those of you who had just watched this short video clip about
Joseph Stalin, here is a few background facts that reflect elements of
the book. The socialist, Joseph Stalin, rewrote Soviet history
completely. His name was in the Soviet National Anthem, and he was
said to have single handedly won World War II. Joseph Stalin murdered
political enemies and leaders. This is relevant to the book because
Big Brother, Goldstein, was very much like that of Joseph Stalin. In
Nineteen Eighty-Four, to do what everyone else was doing, was an
instinctive reaction. Spielvogel said, “By eliminating private
property a Communist ideal would be achieved” (571). For example
Winston lived in the Victory Mansions, along with all of the other
party members, who were forced to live in public apartments. “The
regime now praised motherhood and urged women to have large families
as a patriotic duty” (Spielvogal 572). Party women were encouraged to
have children, but only because it was their “duty to the party.” In
the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four the motto of the Inner and Outer
Party was there would be no love, except the love of Big Brother.


GROUP 4
Military-Industrial Complex:
A military-industrial complex is the unofficial name of a comfortable relationship between government forces and ambitious patrons. The patrons or organizations in a military-industrial complex give financial support for fighting a war, looking to benefit or prophet from the war.

An extreme example of what a military-industrial complex would eventually lead to may be found in Orwell's 1984. The governments in the novel have taken the model and pushed it to the extreme, creating an economy and society that runs and thrives on warfare.

False Flag:

On December 1, 1984, a plane crashed into the NASA airbase. Reports claimed that the plane contained a group of college students traveling to their winter break destination. Supposedly, Cuban terrorism played a part in the crash. However, researchers discovered that the plane was vacant and remotely controlled by our very own U.S. Military. This crash became known as a "false flag." The term "false flag" refers to any false claims of terrorism in relation to Operation Northwoods. A plan to fabricate a cause for military action or "retaliation" against Cuba.

Operation Northwoods:
For those of you who aren't familiar with Operation Northwoods, its was a series of "false flag" proposals that originated within the US government in 1962. The concept involved the Central Intelligence Agency and other operatives committing perceived acts of terrorism in American cities and blaming Cubans in order to develop a communist Cuban terror campaign. This would then create public support for a war against Cuba's recently declared communist government under the new leader, Fidel Castro. Several of the false flag proposals involved simulated actions against various U.S> and civilian targets, hijackings and bombings. These were all to be followed by the release of counterfeit evidence that implicated the Cuban government. The plan's desired resultant would put the U.S. in the apparent position of suffering defensible grievances inflicted by a rash and irresponsible Cuban government. Finally, drawing an international image of a Cuban threat to peace in the Western Hemisphere. A plan very similar to the actions taken by the Stalinist communist government illustrated in George Orwell's "1984."

Gulf of Tonkin Incident:
For those of you keeping up with the events overseas in Vietnam, we have several updates. As many of you know, we entered a state of war after the House passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This came to be because of the two sea battles between North Vietnam forces and a U.S. destroyer. The first confrontation occurred on August 2, and we have received reports that the second occurred August 4. However, today, August 26th, we have further information regarding these attacks that may surprise you. Apparently, according to the National Security Agency, there was a major miscommunication about the attack on August 4th. First there were rumors that the battle was not as severe as originally reported. But NSA has made the statement: "It is not simply that there is a different story as to what happened; it is that no attack happened that night." This is causing many to panic. If there is no good reason for this war then why are we sending our loved ones to fight? And what else is our government lying to us about? This incident also brings to mind Orwell's 1984. Perhaps soon we will be "fighting" South America. And as seen in 1984, this can escalate to a complete separation between our leaders and the common civilian. Will we continue to support wars that do not even exist? The U.S. government will need to do a lot of damage control to cover up these lies.

And that's all we have for tonight. Thanks for watching.

The Handmaid's Tale: Trash or Treasure?

By Brittain B.

     Set in the future and under the rule of a totalitarian government, the unnamed narrator of The Handmaid’s Tale is faced with many trials and tribulations that push her into the safeguard of her mind. The dystopia she must endure puts her in the position of a surrogate mother for a commander and his wife. Children, in this future scenario, are highly valuable and the few women that remained fertile are treated as slaves. She must learn to cope with her new reality, either by facing it head on or by withdrawing to her thoughts. The story starts with the narrator in a large gym, and she is being held with many other women. The narrator begins to tell her story to us. She is one of the few fertile women left in the world due to the previous war, nuclear activity, and women ceasing to bare children and getting infected. The story continues through many trials and conflicts within the life of the narrator, such as dealing with loneliness and the heartbreak that came from being separated from her husband, and the humiliation of being forced to perform sexual rituals. The narrator struggles to find a true reality in her life, either in her past with her husband or in her present situation.
     The issues she is surrounded by continually have an affect on her and her thoughts. We are saddened each time the narrator brings up stories and memories of her husband, who the reader soon finds out, will never be with her again. The narrator remains nameless thought the entire book because names in her society have become worthless and she is assigned a new name in every new house she is placed. She tells us that she knows her real name, but does not reveal it for she finds no use in it anymore. This is just one of the disheartening parts of this story; though the author, Margaret Atwood, does make the plot interesting and is careful to add description for the readers to enjoy her book. However, we find that as we read we are stuck in a “gloomsville,” so to speak, and find ourselves depressed at most stages of the book—oftentimes even disgusted.

     I did not enjoy this book personally because it contained many vulgar scenes and language, and as a believer I felt that some of that content could have been taken out to broaden the book’s reading audience. I do not think that, as believers, we should fill our minds with unnecessary filth, and I think that this book is one of the examples that we should watch out for in literature. The images and thoughts remain in my head of certain chapters that were extremely awkward and needless. Some would argue that those chapters and instances are needed to have a sense of what the author was going though, and allow us to have a better understanding of how far society had gone away from morals and order and thus would realize what the narrator was going though. I would not fully agree with that, but would say that it is important to have a better understanding for a work of literature and its characters but as believers, we must be careful and prudent in our selections of reading material.

     The sexually explicit material within the majority of the chapters is an immediate turn off toward the book as a whole, as it distracts the reader from other beneficial material within the book. Explicit language is also used frequently, which can also distract readers, even up to the point where they do not wish to continue reading—I found myself in that category in several of the chapters. While this was an interesting book, I would not recommend it to a fellow believer, due to the vulgar material throughout the story.

The Bell Jar: Book Review

By Connor C.

     Sylvia Plath’s, The Bell Jar is a story about a small-town high school girl who travels to New York to become a writer. While there, Esther Greenwood, the main character of the book, encounters many experiences that enviably result in her mental breakdown, half way through the book. She returns home in hopes to attend therapy and eventually return to the brilliant writer she once was. Will Esther be able to recover from the negatively life-changing experience she had in New York? Will she be able to continue on her normal life like before she left? Or will her madness consume her and send her into a slow spiral into a fatal depression? By reading The Bell Jar, the reader will be held captive in Plath’s first-person narrative by her ability to make the mind of a mentally insane woman seem more rational than of the sane.

     Sylvia Plath is the testament to a great writer. She writes with a passion for change while on a level of a personal conversation. Plath starts the book with the reader immediately in the mind of Esther Greenwood and makes her irrational way of thinking seem normal and seamless. Plath does not process through Esther’s thoughts and ideas chronologically, which does make the book difficult to understand at times, however, Plath does not leave the reader confused for long. To catch the reader up to each sporadically told event in Esther’s life, Plath gives vivid imagery and includes almost too much detail; mainly crude and vulgar descriptions. When telling of Esther’s stories, Plath makes the words come to life through her descriptive words and imagery. The only major fault I noticed was Plath’s lack to have a clear transition from life before and after Esther’s mental breakdown. The reader had been in Esther’s mind the entire first half of the book so all of Esther’s thinking, rational or not, seemed normal. So when Esther started having disturbing thoughts, nothing seemed unusual. The only distinguishing factor was her transition from New York back to Minnesota. Plath uses sarcasm, bluntness, and Esther’s character and madness to express her negative feelings toward society; such as hypocrisy and sexism. Overall, The Bell Jar is a suspenseful read. The reader is never sure of the next scandal Esther will be involved in and of her future stability

     The Bell Jar seems to be saturated with Plath’s personal experiences and emotions. Esther starts off in the book as a young, naïve teenage girl who had been sheltered all her life. Once arriving in New York, she is overwhelmed with reality and the corrupt world around her. The struggles of the new city, relationships, and her confusion on her place in life, affected Esther forever. New York changed Esther’s perspective on life that eventually led to her madness. Esther’s struggle of breaking free from the typical mold of a woman in the 1950s is shown in The Bell Jar. Through Plath’s detail, the reader is able to relate and feel the pain of Esther and experience her slow spiral into suicidal depression. Every disturbing thought and suicide attempt makes Esther’s depravity more evident.

     Plath includes a prevalent theme throughout the book of feminism. Woman of the time were inferior to men and were expected to become housewives after attaining their college degree. Plath mocks the expected role of a woman throughout her entire book. She first does this by telling of Esther’s first-hand experience with a woman giving birth. She tells of the abnormal-like nature of the pregnancy by stating:

The woman’s stomach stuck up so high I could not see her face or the upper part of her body at all. She seemed to have nothing but an enormous spider-fat stomach and two little ugly spindly legs propped in the high stirrups and all the time the baby was being born she never stopped making this unhuman whooping noise. (120)

Esther not only mocks the idea of motherhood and pregnancy but also identifies the main male characters of the book as cowards and hypocrites. Plath successfully captures the struggles of the common 1950s woman and their confined role in society. Plath also identifies her main target of the book, feminism in society, and effectively uses her story to make a change.

Book Review for Things Fall Apart

By Matthew F.

            Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, begins with the story of Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and well respected warrior for the Umuofia clan. Okonkwo does not want to be view by the clan as his father was viewed-- soft-hearted, effeminate, and most importantly weak. Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son, is view by his father as idle and negligent. The problems start when Okonkwo acquires a young boy from nearby village. The young boy, Ikemefuna, is the ideal son for Okonkwo. They begin to grow fond of each other and Ikemefuna eventually begins to call Okonkwo “father”. During the locust invasion three years later, the Oracle says that Ikemefuna has to be sacrificed, but Ogbuefi Ezeudu warns Okonkwo not to take part in the murder of the boy. Against the advice of the village elder, Okonkwo does help in the murder of Ikemefuna. Later, at the funeral of Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Okonkwo’s gun misfires and kills Ezeudu’s son. Due to the strict laws of the clan, Okonkwo and his family are exiled for 7 years. During the exile, Okonkwo settles in to his new life in Mbanta, his mother’s village. While there, missionaries began to move in and they convert some of the locals. Nwoye becomes a Christian, much to his father’s displeasure. After the exile, Okonkwo returns to his village and finds that the missionaries have already begun to convert most of the locals there. When Reverend Smith takes the place of the peaceful leader Mr. Brown, the methods of conversion change. When Enoch – one of the new converts – interrupts a sacred ceremony, the clan responds by killing him and burning the new Christian church. In response, the District Commissioner orders that all the leaders of the clan be arrested. After their release, the leaders hold a meeting to decide whether or not to go to war against the Christians. I will let you read the end of the book for yourself and figure out what happens next.

            Overall, Things Fall Apart was not the best book I ever read, but it was also not the worst. There were a few points that I did find interesting. The first is how far Okonkwo would go to keep his masculinity. Achebe made this Okonkwo’s first priority. He jeopardized his, family, his clan, and even himself all in an effort to be seen as a strong leader. Okonkwo even took it as far as murdering his adoptive son whom came to him and begged for help. There was one thing I was sure of as I read this book – absolutely nothing would stand between Okonkwo and his desire to be seen as strong. I also found the character of Nwoye interesting. He begins the book with a fear of his father. When Ikemefuna arrives and they become closer, he does not seem to fear his father as much as he once did. After Ikemefuna’s death, Nwoye again begin to fear his father. Once Nwoye is converted to Christianity, he becomes too much for his father to handle. I found Nwoye as a child in need of proper guidance. He was willing to follow Ikemefuna and the Christians because both of them were able to show Nwoye compassion. Nwoye saw the way that his father behaved and did not want to be like him.

            There were also a few things about the book that I did not like. For example, the way that Achebe depicted the Christians made them look like bad people. He does not depict the Christians as people who are genuine in their faith, but he depicts them as people who will do anything to convert the locals. The most prominent example of this would be Reverend Smith. When Reverend Smith takes control of the missionaries, he changes to more hostile methods. I did not enjoy the way that Achebe depicted the Christians.

            All in all, Things Fall Apart was a moderate book for me. I defiantly think that there are better book options out there for those looking for a good read.

An insight into immigrant life: Monica Ali's Brick Lane

By Michael K.

            Brick Lane by Monica Ali is a historical fiction story about the transition from native life to immigrant life for a Bangladeshi family as told through the main character. The opening scene of the novel is set in Pakistan during the late 1960’s when Chanu and Nazneen first move from Bangladesh. It seems that life is okay for the couple, but they decide to move to London where Nazneen starts a small business. While in London, the family experiences several positive and negative aspects of being an immigrant family. For instance, a negative aspect can be noted when Chanu and Nazneen first arrive in London and are confronted with the issue of alienation. Their native Bangladeshi and Muslim values are being challenged by the society of Western Civilization and their constant struggle to retain native values while shying away from western influence often separate them from the rest of London. Some other characters in the novel that support Chanu and Nazneen during these times are Dr. Azad, the village’s local physician, and his wife. Positively speaking, the family is middle class only because Chanu and Nazneen both work decent paying jobs, so for an immigrant family in London during the 70’s it appears they are doing well. As time progresses, Nazneen grows more accustomed to western life although she retains her native values, and a new conflict arises: to leave her old life behind her and continue her business in London or move back to Bangladesh with Chanu.

            After reading this novel, I have discovered three things that make this novel worth reading: the historical context on which the novel was written, the author’s writing style and the different themes that present themselves through the different characters of the story.

            I believe Monica Ali presents a clear picture of what immigrant life is like for anyone during the 1970’s. Traditional values and customs come into opposition with outside influences and the struggle to maintain oneself in a new country becomes the most difficult task any immigrant can face. Throughout the story, Chanu and Nazneen are pressured by western culture and all the things that their native Bangladeshi values are against such as the plastering of nude pictures of women on the tavern windows and playing “chance” games. As the story progresses, the couple begins to include Christianity and Judaism along with a few other religions in their home life and lifestyle altogether. This shows that although the couple remains loyal to their native religion, they are allowing other religions to help influence their overall character. In addition to the struggle of trying to prevent oneself from being taken over by a new society, immigrants also face the challenge of making enough money to support their family in a new country. When Chanu and Nazneen first arrive in London, they appear to have sufficient wealth to take care of their children. However, economic times become more difficult than the couple expected and as a result Chanu takes a second job as a cab driver and Nazneen works even harder in her business to make more money so that their children would live sufficiently. All in all, I believe that anyone who is genuinely interested in learning about a novel’s historical background should really consider reading this particular work because I think Ali presents the novel’s historical backdrop in an intriguing and fascinating way.

            Another thing that I discovered about this novel that I believe makes it a worthwhile read is the language and writing techniques employed by the author. First, I must admit that one particular aspect of Ali’s writing that I do not enjoy is the fact that she uses long pages to get her ideas across to the readers. Apart from that, I think Ali uses very dynamic sentence structure and includes a fair mix of character dialogue and narration so that the story does not become dry and readers will not be bored. Another aspect of Ali’s writing that I am fond of is her ability to convey her personal testimony of growing up as a Bangladeshi immigrant in a thought provoking and clever manner through the numerous characters in the story. I believe that this novel contains writing techniques that appeal to everyone and as one reads and comprehends the story, a very descriptive picture of Ali’s personal experiences as an immigrant is painted in the reader’s mind.

            Finally, the part I most enjoyed about Ali’s novel is the way she was able to present different historical themes and keep the reader fascinated. Some of the themes that are presented in the novel include: wealth and poverty, alienation, and clashes between religions in a new society. Overall, this novel would be excellent for any reader that wishes to be intellectually stimulated, entertained by unique writing skills, and experience what a first-hand account of life in a new country would be like.

Things Fall Apart Book Review

By Rebecca D.

          Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe follows the life of Umuofian tribal leader, Okonkwo. Although not having had the privilege of being born into a wealthy family, Okonkwo learns at a young age the importance of hard work. Because of this; he becomes one of the wealthiest, strongest, and most powerful men in the Igbo society. Due to his high place in their civilization, Okonkwo becomes the guardian of Ikemefuna, a boy taken captive as a peace offering by Okonkwo’s tribe. Despite knowing the fate of the boy’s life, both Okonkwo and Ikemefuna grow fond of each other; and eventually come to see each other as father and son. After three years, the elders of Okonkwo’s tribe determine Ikemefuna’s fate; deciding that the boy must be killed. In spite of being encouraged to not contribute to Ikemefuna’s death, Okonkwo is the one to give the final blow that kills the boy. It is after Ikemefuna’s death that Okonkwo’s life is thrown into chaos and “things fall apart.” After an incident during the traditional Week of Peace that results in another person’s death, Okonkwo and his family are exiled. It is during this time that the white colonists appear and share their Christian faith with the Umuofians. At first, the Umuofians and the colonists are able to live peacefully with one another, due to the kind-hearted missionary, Mr. Brown. However, when Mr. Brown leaves and the strict Reverend James Smith replaces him, Okonkwo and the other tribal leaders attempt to take control back. After this attempt, the colonists respond harshly and all peace between the colonists and the Umuofians end; eventually leading to Okonkwo’s ultimate demise

           Chinua Achebe’s novel helps readers understand the African culture better by giving us insight into the mind of a typical African male, Okonkwo. Through Okonkwo, we see that becoming a valiant warrior in one’s tribe was a thing to be proud of; while those who sought pleasure through music and more peaceful means were a disgrace to the society. Achebe allows the reader to understand why many Africans behaved the way that they did; such as not being permitted to be loud at night because of their fear of the dark and belief that ghosts would kidnap them. As well as, explaining why the African people would abandon twins and leave them to die in the forest. In addition, Achebe allows us to see the harm that one causes when they force their beliefs upon one another; violence only came about between the two societies after the colonists began to force their beliefs upon the Umuofians.

          Although Things Fall Apart can be difficult to understand at times, due to Achebe’s frequent use of African vocabulary, it is an enjoyable read. Achebe does bounce around quite a bit in the story and refers to several different events that may make it difficult to follow; however, this does not detract from the overall purpose of the story, which is to show the clashing of the two societies and the harm in not attempting to understand one other. Some Christians might have difficulty when reading this novel, partly due to Achebe portraying the Christian missionaries harshly. However, I believe that it is because he is harsh on the Christians that Christians should read it. It reminds us that we are representatives of Christ and that we should represent Him accurately. Mr. Brown led many Umuofians to Christianity because of his Christ-like nature and loving manner in which he presented the gospel. He gave the Umuofians the truth, but was not forceful in the way he did so; allowing the Umuofians to choose to follow Christ for themselves. Reverend James Smith; however, was harsh and cruel and showed no compassion towards the Umuofians, causing them to retaliate with anger and to refuse the truth. Jesus in John 13:15 said, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” He calls us to be like Him in every way. In John 4, we see Jesus interacting with a Samaritan woman. Like the Umuofians and the white colonists, Jesus’ culture was highly different from the woman’s; however, we see that Jesus, in spite of their differences, was kind and loving towards her. If we, as Christians, are prideful and harsh like Reverend James Smith instead of being like Christ, kind and loving, why would others ever want to become a Christian?

          Although I think Achebe could have done a better job in writing Things Fall Apart and could have made the book easier to understand, I truly believe that it is a novel worth reading. The overall plot is well done and is somewhat enjoyable. In addition, I believe that Chinua Achebe’s harsh representation of Christians will enlighten any Christian and will serve as a reminder of our call to love others as Christ does.



The Woman Warrior Book Review

By Brittany P.

             I can still remember things my parents or friends said or did from the time I was a young child. And now I can tell how some of these actions have shaped who I am today. Likewise, author Maxine Hong Kingston reminisces and describes her youthful days and the process it took to figure out who she was. Kingston was told stories frequently by her mother, Brave Orchid, as she was growing up. The influence those “talk-stories” had on Kingston made her realize how powerful the tool of storytelling was. She could control what her audience’s sense of reality by what she said. Having gone through a period of silence in her childhood, Kingston is now eager to freely express herself and she does so in her unique arrangement of stories. This is the purpose of Maxine Kingston’s The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts—to summarize the path of her past that led her to her future.

            Being the first generation to be born in America from her Chinese family, Maxine Hong Kingston struggles with balancing her family’s heritage and culture against American expectations—she feels pressure from all sides. Not only does she feel her race defines her, but she also feels oppressed due to the fact that she is a woman. Maxine wrote: "I’m not a bad girl,' I would scream. 'I'm not a bad girl. I'm not a bad girl.' I might as well have said, 'I'm not a girl"' (46). Sadly, Kingston felt like she was born with an unfair set back. When she was young she hoped and dreamed of overcoming the disadvantages of being female, and as she grew older she became even more determined to do so. At first, however, she was unsure about her true identity, and Maxine Kingston reveals in her collection of stories what has made her and we are allowed to see the effects of events during and even before her lifetime. Full of endearing anecdotes and intensely personal thoughts and elements, The Woman Warrior spares no details. Maxine Kingston is willing to share everything from musings about her physical deformities and the short comings of her personality to heated conflicts within her own family. Kingston even incorporates myth to represent the influence her background had on her. Maxine’s childhood fantasies of greatness let us see into her inner thoughts and wishes.

This composition promotes self confidence and independence. In the end Maxine Kingston had decided she never wanted to have to rely on a husband but instead would always remain self-sufficient. Fighting the natural assumption that she would inevitably become a submissive wife, Kingston is horrified to find out her parents are trying to marry her off to shady characters. She then promptly makes it clear to her family that she is a driven woman who is determined to make a place for herself through her career and leaves their household in order to avoid being married off. The Woman Warrior derives its title from Kingston’s desire to stand up for herself and do noble deeds on her own. She finds inspiration all around her: in the legends of Fa Mu Lan, her mother’s bravery, and her own personal strengths.

Her style is unique and therefore can be hard to follow at times, but is good for broadening your horizons with literature. Because she uses her personal experiences, stories about her family both past and present, as well as mythological tales it can be difficult for the reader to distinguish between what truly happened and her imagination. Maxine Kingston also uses some unusual terms in The Woman Warrior. For example, she uses the term “ghost” to mean restless spirits like we normally would, but Kingston also uses the word to refer to any non-Chinese American she encounters in her neighborhood. The Woman Warrior reads well as a novel and its assortment of short stories keep the reader well entertained. Though some of the material can be unpleasant, it is not graphic and is comparatively cleaner than other books in the senior compilation. I would recommend The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts to anyone interested in feminism, racial and cultural differences, unusual writing techniques, or the discovery of one’s individuality.