McKenna Delton
Professor Navarro
English 2010
10 December 2015
The Myth of Utopia
A society is a group of people who share a common culture as a consequence of their overlapping interactions. This bond is the result of communal institutions, beliefs, resources, characteristics, or regions. The concept of a Utopia, or an ideal society, was first introduced by Sir Thomas More in his book of the same name. In Utopia, More details a civilization in which everything is held in common, from property to political power. In this simple, egalitarian union, no one wants for anything. The word Utopia directly translates to “No Place,” indicating that this perfect society will likely never exist (Elsky 181). The Utopian concept is one that has been conceived …show more content…
The perceived passage of time has a positive relationship with increasing entropy; as we move forward in time, the universe moves ever more quickly into turmoil (Durret 2). This natural law suggests that any attempt to create a Utopia will be futile, as it will eventually be consumed in chaos. In order to create a peaceful state, entropy would have to decrease, which the law does not allow for. Marina Abramovic exposed this with her Rhythm 0 production, in which she placed seventy-two objects on a table in front of her, and allowed the audience to use them on her however they chose. For six hours, she remained completely vulnerable to the desires of the crowd. At first the audience members were very gentle, some just observing Abramovic, or giving her roses. “Then,” says Marina, “They became more and more wild. They cut my neck and drank my blood, they carried me around, put me on the table.” Additionally, her clothes were ripped off of her, thorns were pushed into her body, and one audience member held a loaded gun to her head (Rhythm 0). The audience members were unknowingly a part of the performance, demonstrating how quickly the behavior of individuals will escalate in intensity and chaos. William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” also demonstrates the law of entropy, with the increasing savagery and chaos on the island as time goes on. At first the …show more content…
The Superego is a kind of moral compass, an internalization of learned social conventions. The Id is characterized by unconscious human instincts, and is the most powerful drive. The Id controls survival and pleasure seeking. The Ego is the conscious, rational mind, and is a bridge between the Superego and the Id (LaMothe 676). These elements of the human mind are manifested in Golding’s first novel. The title, “The Lord of the Flies, (LOTF)” is a direct translation of the biblical Beelzebub. In the story, the Superego is represented anytime a character attempts to make a decision based on what is morally right. For example, Simon and Piggy are both examples of the Superego; Piggy for his logical, morally right decisions, and Simon for his empathy and innate goodness. Ralph personifies the Ego, as he is often a mediator between Jack and Piggy, and he makes decisions after considering both what he desires, as well as what is best for the group. Jack and the Beelzebub figure are both manifestations of the overpowering Id. When Jack makes a decision, he doesn't consider what would be best for everyone, he only thinks of his own desires. His only concerns are maintaining his own survival, and receiving pleasure at the expense of others. In his review of LOTF, Edmund Epstein praises Golding for his unflinchingly accurate portrayal of the most powerful aspect of human nature; the
Professor Navarro
English 2010
10 December 2015
The Myth of Utopia
A society is a group of people who share a common culture as a consequence of their overlapping interactions. This bond is the result of communal institutions, beliefs, resources, characteristics, or regions. The concept of a Utopia, or an ideal society, was first introduced by Sir Thomas More in his book of the same name. In Utopia, More details a civilization in which everything is held in common, from property to political power. In this simple, egalitarian union, no one wants for anything. The word Utopia directly translates to “No Place,” indicating that this perfect society will likely never exist (Elsky 181). The Utopian concept is one that has been conceived …show more content…
The perceived passage of time has a positive relationship with increasing entropy; as we move forward in time, the universe moves ever more quickly into turmoil (Durret 2). This natural law suggests that any attempt to create a Utopia will be futile, as it will eventually be consumed in chaos. In order to create a peaceful state, entropy would have to decrease, which the law does not allow for. Marina Abramovic exposed this with her Rhythm 0 production, in which she placed seventy-two objects on a table in front of her, and allowed the audience to use them on her however they chose. For six hours, she remained completely vulnerable to the desires of the crowd. At first the audience members were very gentle, some just observing Abramovic, or giving her roses. “Then,” says Marina, “They became more and more wild. They cut my neck and drank my blood, they carried me around, put me on the table.” Additionally, her clothes were ripped off of her, thorns were pushed into her body, and one audience member held a loaded gun to her head (Rhythm 0). The audience members were unknowingly a part of the performance, demonstrating how quickly the behavior of individuals will escalate in intensity and chaos. William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” also demonstrates the law of entropy, with the increasing savagery and chaos on the island as time goes on. At first the …show more content…
The Superego is a kind of moral compass, an internalization of learned social conventions. The Id is characterized by unconscious human instincts, and is the most powerful drive. The Id controls survival and pleasure seeking. The Ego is the conscious, rational mind, and is a bridge between the Superego and the Id (LaMothe 676). These elements of the human mind are manifested in Golding’s first novel. The title, “The Lord of the Flies, (LOTF)” is a direct translation of the biblical Beelzebub. In the story, the Superego is represented anytime a character attempts to make a decision based on what is morally right. For example, Simon and Piggy are both examples of the Superego; Piggy for his logical, morally right decisions, and Simon for his empathy and innate goodness. Ralph personifies the Ego, as he is often a mediator between Jack and Piggy, and he makes decisions after considering both what he desires, as well as what is best for the group. Jack and the Beelzebub figure are both manifestations of the overpowering Id. When Jack makes a decision, he doesn't consider what would be best for everyone, he only thinks of his own desires. His only concerns are maintaining his own survival, and receiving pleasure at the expense of others. In his review of LOTF, Edmund Epstein praises Golding for his unflinchingly accurate portrayal of the most powerful aspect of human nature; the