I have elected to analyze seven poems spoken by a child to its parent. Despite a wide variety of sentiments, all share one theme: the deep and complicated love between child and parent.
The first poem, “My Papa’s Waltz,” by Theodore Roethke (Page 18) presents a clear picture of the young man’s father, from line one. “Whiskey” on the father’s breath is one of many clues in appearance that mold a rough image of this uneducated, blue-collar worker, possibly a European immigrant, as indicated by the “Waltz” in the title (Line 1). These traits are not necessarily related. They merely exist at once in the father’s character. Additional signs of roughness are his hand, “battered on one knuckle”(11), and “a palm caked hard by dirt”(14). This is a man who has probably known only grueling labor. His few escapes likely consist of a drink or two when he gets home from a tough day and maybe something good on the radio. This idea of the father as an unrefined oaf is further reinforced by his actions. His missed steps injure the child’s ear, while the father and son’s “romping” causes the pans to slide “from the kitchen shelf”(6). As he “beat[s] time”(13) on the child’s head we see very clearly that he is quite brutish and careless with the child, and oblivious to his environment. All these factors make the boy’s mother very uncomfortable. We can see the disapproval in her countenance, which “could not unfrown itself”(8). She is obviously upset but, strangely, does nothing to interfere with the horseplay that grieves her. This suggests that the waltz is enjoyable for not only one, but both parties. One might wonder why it is that the boy so delights in these moments. This is obviously a crude, boorish man. He probably doesn’t flush. He may even smell bad. Are these reasons to love one’s father less? Certainly not in the eyes of a small boy. This young man’s father may not be the most sensitive or perceptive man around, but he still seems to be a hero in the eyes of his son. Finally, the son recalls these words: “Then you waltzed me off to bed/ Still clinging to your shirt”(16). After reading this poem, it is clear just how unconditional a child’s love is.
Technology, Belief Systems and the Individual in Dune and Foundation
Technology, Belief Systems and the Individual in Dune and Foundation
Technology and belief have a great deal to do in making a good science fiction novel. Frank Herbert’s Dune and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series give excellent examples of this. Belief systems are defined as religious beliefs in a society. Technology is defined as the level of science achieved in a society. These two factors play separate roles in a society. Yet, at times, they fall into the same categories like in the book Dune where science reflects religious aspects or in Foundation where the society depends on religion and social behavior to survive the onslaught of advanced technology. Religion might be a fuel to achieve a specific level of technology. Such as in the Bible, “Seek and you shall find.” May mean that God wants all Christians to achieve the highest amount of experience that they are capable of. Religion gives an individual, morals and control, while science gives an individual the medium under which he can explore the hidden. Dune is a fine example that shows the mingling of religion and science and how it affects the individual or society.
Religion is the main idea in the book Dune. The author states the different types of religions that come to pass since the beginning of this age. Before the coming of Muad’Dib (a savior), the desert people on the planet of Arrakis practiced a religion whose roots came from an undetermined source. Many scholars have traced the extensive borrowing of this religion from other religions. Many people were confused to find that so many ideas in one religion easily reflected another. From this confusion, the people of Arrakis formed a committee known as the Orange Catholic Liturgical Church. This ch…
… middle of paper …
…changeably. In other words religion and technology have to become a part of each other. In Foundation, these is a lack of religious beliefs and a lack of social behavior among the people and the government known as the Empire, until the savior discovers the truth and proves that a society cannot rely upon technology alone. In the book Dune on the other hand religion and technology are the cornerstones of the society and the people think of scientific events such as space travel as a religious event. However, this relationship becomes fragile as the greed among the people destroys those cornerstones and as a result, the society. In every community, religion and technology are together in harmony which brings order to an individual’s mind, therefore it is very important to maintain that order in a society.
Works Cited:
Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York: Ace, 1965.