In one of Asimov’s earliest and most-loved pieces, “Nightfall,” the theme of man inability to alter the future regardless of free will is quite clear. Asimov rejects the age-old adage that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Instead, he emanates a general tone that even those who do know history are doomed to repeat it, as evidenced by the events and people of Lagash.
There is no doubt that the people of Lagash have free will, shown by their actions. The reactions of the characters to different events prove this. In addition, the characters act in many different ways. Take for example, the beginning of the story, when the main character, Theremon 762, convinces the director of Saro University, Aton 77, to allow him to stay and report on the upcoming events. Aton slowly changes his mind over the course of their discussion. “‘You may leave,’ [Aton 77] snapped over his shoulder.” Later, “‘Since your good friend Beenay insists so urgently, I will give you five minutes. Talk away.’ ” And soon after, “‘You may stay if you wish, then’” (Asimov, “Nightfall” 379-381). If a deity or destiny were controlling Aton, Theremon would not have needed to convince Aton in a lengthy debate to let him stay. Other evidence also notes free will; Sharp conflicts of belief are evident in the two different groups, the scientists and the cultists. The cultists believe in a mysticism based on faith and the accuracy of their books of faith. The scientists believe in pure research only and treat the Cultists as illogical mystics (Kerschen 224). This also points to free will by showing the diversity of opinions on Lagash. Surely if Asimov wanted his characters not to have free will, he would have give...
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In conclusion, it is through these contradictions between history and memory that we learn not to completely rely on either form of representation, due to the vexing nature of the relationship and the deliberate selection and emphasis. It is then an understanding that through a combination of history and memory we can begin to comprehend representation. ‘The Fiftieth Gate’ demonstrates Baker’s conclusive realisation that both history and memory have reliability and usefulness. ‘Schindler’s List’ reveals how the context of a medium impacts on the selection and emphasis of details. ‘The Send-Off’ then explains how the contradiction between memory and history can show differing perspectives and motives.
The past dictates who we are in a current moment, and affects who we might become in the future. Every decision people make in lives has an influence on future, regardless of how minimal or large it is. Some decisions people decide to make can have dire consequences that will follow them for the rest of the life. Moreover, even though if someone would want to leave any memories from past behind, however it will always be by his side. Specific memories will urge emotional responses that bring mind back to the past and person have no choose but to relieve those emotions and memories again. Nonetheless, certain events change people and make them who they are, but at the same time, some wrong choices made past haunts us. This essay will discuss the role of the past in novel Maestro, that was written by Australian author Peter Goldsworthy in 1989 and also in Tan Shaun's story Stick Figures which was included in book called "Tales from outer suburbia" and published in 2008.
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Human beings always believe that what they want to do is ‘up to them,' and on this account, they take the assumption that they have free will. Perhaps that is the case, but people should investigate the situation and find a real case. Most of the intuitions may be correct, but still many of them can be incorrect. There are those who are sceptical and believe that free will is a false illusion and that it only exists in the back of people’s minds, but society should be able to distinguish feelings from beliefs in order to arrive at reality and truth.
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1-Science fiction is a genre with transformative potential, allowing authors to recontextualizetechnological, cultural, or social issues in order to pose questions about those issues. Sciencefiction narratives can transpose a problem to a futuristic literary universe, modifying the problemin order to create a critical perspective on the issue. The genre of science fiction is capable of transformation. Authors can use it to depict cultural,technological, or social issues in an alternate universe of the future and provide and invitecommentary. In this way, reality is modified in order to challenge and question existing norms.2-This work examines the first two novels of Frank Herbert ' s Dune series, Dune and DuneMessiah,
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“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is a famous quote by George Santayana. Although the r...
Updike, John. “A&P.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. 10th ed. Eds. Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: Norton, 2010. 409-414. Print.