Themes in This Perfect Day

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Themes: This Perfect Day

Themes in literature

Writers of literature try to convey a message through their stories 

Very often they are not conscious of  all of the messages they convey

To decide which theme or message a story has for you, ask yourself, 'What is this story trying to teach me?' 

Basic Plots

The Greeks first said their were a 3 basic types of stories: tragedies, comedies and sagas. Later this number was expanded: https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/jul/13/three-six-or-36-how-many-basic-plots-are-there-in-all-stories-ever-written

 Next slide famous dystopian writer Kurt Vonnegut on plots:

Building a theme

But beside the plot, there is the message or theme.

The writer uses 4 things to convey this message (among others):

1. Protagonist (fatal flaw/strength)
2. Challenge
3. Setting, including other characters
4. Symbolism

Dystopian Protagonist

• often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.

• questions the existing social and political systems.

• believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives.

• helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.

Dystopian Protagonist's Fatal Flaw

The Dystopian protagonist is motivated to question the system because of some internal flaw, something that makes him/her 'less' or 'different' than the other people in society.

Fatal Flaw Quiz

Choose the fatal flaw for each of the following dystopian protagonist

Katnis Everdine

1. not pretty
2. not smart
3. not friendly
4. not popular

Lacie from Black Mirror

1. insecure
2. unattractive
3. weak
4. unintelligent

Harrison Bergeron

1. bad health
2. bad memory
3. too intelligent
4. too agressive

Chip

1. wants to be liked by everybody
2. is seen as different others
3. wants to become a programmer
4. is eager to decide what people do

Confronting the challenge

In a dystopian book, story or movie, some situation challenges the protagonist which plays on his/her fatal flaw. 

By using the strength he/she has developed, the protagonist wins, loses, or a combination of both.

Fatal flaw / strength

The fatal flaw usually becomes a strength for the protagonist:

1. Katnis is not friendly = learns to pretend
2. Lacie is insecure (bullied) = uses rating system for likes
3. Harrison is too gifted = joins another gifted person
4. Chip is seen as different = curious about others who are different

How does Katnis Everdine use her strength to solve challenge?

How does Lacie use her strength to solve the challenge?

How does Harrison Bergeron use his strength to solve the challenge?

How does Chip use his strength to solve the challenge?

Setting, incl. other characters

Time, place and other characters also build on a theme.

In dystopian fiction, technology plays a large part in helping or hindering the protagonist. 

Technological development is usually one of the aspects of society that the writer questions and uses to develop a theme .

Which is Katnis, Lacie, Harrison or Chip ?

• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.

• Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.

• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.

• Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.

• Citizens have a fear of the outside world.

• Citizens live in a dehumanized state.

• The natural world is banished and distrusted.

• Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.

• The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.

Symbolism

A writer uses various actions, persons, colours, places, or objects to represent concepts or ideas about which the writer wishes to deliver the message or theme.

Independent

Conformity/UNI

bracelet

television

1 green eye

Ashi Chip king

breasts beard

whiskey

treatments

old books

coveralls

totalcakes

anger passion

li Peace Karl

tobacco

helpfullness

2 brown eyes

Choice

Choosing a theme

Here are a few topics that are included in the This Perfect Day

1. Power corrupts versus good intentions
2. The individual versus collective good
3. Fake (drugged) happiness versus real (negative) emotions
4. A privileged elite versus common people
5. State propoganda versus individual research
6. Normal versus Abnormal/Sick/Incurable

What message did This Perfect Day have for you?