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Future In Margaret Atwood, Oryx And Gaiman

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Since authors began writing, a popular topic of literature has been the future. From pondering the events of tomorrow, to predicting the future of mankind, humans have an obsession with presenting their personal ideas of what the future will be like. A large topic of discussion concerning the future is the apocalypse. Several authors such as Ray Bradbury (The Illustrated Man), Margaret Atwood (Oryx and Crake), and Pratchett and Gaiman (Good Omens) craft their works to portray their visions of a possible apocalypse through fiction and nonfiction. Although each author has a different method of portraying their ideal apocalyptic scenario, they share similar belief systems and reasonings for writing about this particular topic. Ray Bradbury is …show more content…

I found myself being pulled into Bradbury’s “The Highway” due to the story’s authentic approach. The images of the characters and their emotions are extremely vivid and realistic, and after implementing some research on certain aspects of the story, I discovered that many of the subtle events within “The Highway” are linked to historical findings. The apocalyptic threat of the atomic bomb also seized my attention due to its parallelism to the threats and events of our world today, such as the recent nuclear activity between Syria and France. However, although Atwood’s Oryx and Crake and Pratchett and Gaiman’s Good Omens have several realistic qualities, their methods of apocalyptic downfall are not as convincing. The unrealistic qualities of the characters throughout these novels are too unrelatable to truly delve into a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation for the ideas of their authors. I feel as though “The Highway” has shaped my perspective and morals concerning the atomic bomb and how it relates to society as a whole, where Oryx and Crake and Good Omens simply allowed me to understand the message the author was trying to convey in a creative …show more content…

First of all, the genres encouraged me to create my project with a more deliberate, serious style and diction, rather than satirical or light hearted. I wanted to ensure that my audience comprehended and related to my ideas, although an apocalypse via Benzene is not an imminent threat. The most effective method to achieve that in my opinion was through realistic fiction and nonfictional aspects. Furthermore, if I had the opportunity to change any components of my project, I would revise my topic of apocalyptic threat. I chose Benzene to ensure that my project was original, yet I regret not using a more familiar and relatable topic such as nuclear warfare. Although several other students presented with this topic, I feel I could have excelled with the knowledge I possess on the subject. Also, the world as a whole has recently been reminded of the magnitude and prevalence of nuclear warfare, which makes it a more pressing issue to obtain knowledge on. Society seems to care most about important issues when they are fresh in our minds and

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Ray Bradbury, an American author, is best known for his dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451. Aside from that his other most famous works are his multiple short stories, which are largely made up of stories of either the science fiction or horror genres. Today we’ll be discussing two of Bradbury’s most famous short stories. While The Pedestrian and The Veldt are both very similar in theme and message, they contain many differences in tone, style, and setting.

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Throughout the existence of literature, there have been numerous pieces that portrays life in a dystopian American. In the narrative, "By the Water of Babylon", Stephen Vincent Benet tells the story of a young priest 's journey to gather metal in a post-apocalyptic New York City. In contrast, the Pulizter Prize winning novel, The Road, Cormac McCarthy displays the hardships faced by a middle-aged man and his adolescent son as they travel south through an ash covered wasteland that were once the Appalachian Mountains. Even though these pieces of fiction are seperated by decades of various turmoil, the authors accomplish numerous comparisons and contrasts that exemplify a post-apocalyptic America.

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