Gutter Child
To Think About...
1. The world in this novel is designed in a way that creates success for some
(Mainlanders) and barriers for others (Gutter people). While “Redemption
Freedom” has all of the positive connotations in its words, it is a control measure put in place to further benefit those who have the power and privilege in
society. Those who are oppressed face a lifetime of impossible circumstances
in the Gutter, where the odds of success are greatly diminished. What are some ways in which the people in these situations endure and/or rise up against
this oppression?
2. “Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience” (Rudine Sims Bishop, 1990). How has this book been a window, mirror and sliding glass door for you?
1. I think that the main way people in those situation endure against the oppression is with their families. It's really as simple as that. They believe that if they have their family with them in the Gutter and they're happy, that they will be able to endure all the difficulties and problems they encounter.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the people and families that think they need to be outside the Gutter to be happy are the ones that will try their best to rise up against the oppression. They are the ones that see the flaw in the Gutter system and will give it all they got to stop it. At the end of the book we can begin to see the start of a new movement that will again try to overcome the Mainlanders.
The reality of it all is that there are still places like the Gutter system in the world today. There are internment camps all over the world and still people fighting for their lives. There have been countless protests and objecting against these camp and still government refuse to believe that we are all equals.
The only way to rise up against oppression is to never give up, never waver in your believes and give it all you got first try cause you never know when you'll get another chance.