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(2019
premidterm assignment) Model Midterm answers 2019 (Index) Essay 1: Compare, contrast, and evaluate Narratives of the Future |
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Sage Butler
The Future in Fiction
In literature of the future, there are
three primary narratives: apocalypse, evolution, and alternative. Apocalyptic
literature takes place immediately preceding, during, or after the collapse of a
civilization. Evolution narratives describe changes that have occurred in the
characters’ world and to humankind, and explore the growth and/or regression
that may have taken place.
Alternative futures are based on other “possible” worlds, which may have come
about if certain events did or did not take place, or parallel worlds, which
share many similar and very different qualities with our own.
As a whole, these different narratives help me better understand that,
though narratives of the future may have different origins and paths, they show
what could be if society continues down the path we are on, and the significance
that a single event may have on our future as a whole.
Differentiating between apocalyptic and
evolutionary narratives is more attainable when analyzing the different styles,
signs, symbols, and metaphors that are typically present in the literature. In
apocalypse narratives, the event that changes society is typically dramatic and
happens quickly—in the Book of Revelation, Jesus suddenly releases hell on
Earth, with plagues, rivers of blood, and beasts attacking the world’s
population. Evolution narratives typically is more gradual, such as the economic
decline and destruction of the climate in Parable of the Sower, though it
is a blend of apocalyptic and evolutionary narratives. There is also a heavier
presence of symbolism and signs in apocalyptic narratives, such as the numbers
“666” or “7” throughout the Bible, though God being change is the only major
concept repeated throughout Parable. In evolutionary narratives, survival
is also emphasized more—in “Stone Lives,” the titular character thinks to
himself that “survival is his main—his only—concern.” This idea is also present
in Katie Morin’s “Destiny Defined: Analyzing Narratives of the Future,” when she
says that evolving is necessary for survival in these narratives. However, in
apocalyptic literature, purity is a common theme: clearing the Earth of “impure”
beings is one major concept, even in popular apocalyptic movies, such as
Bird Box (2018).
Apocalyptic narratives appeal to many
people as literature and culturally because there is often rich symbolism and
signs, which helps connect ideas and gives readers the feeling that they can
prevent the apocalypse from impacting them as dramatically—often through
physical, mental, and, often most importantly, spiritual preparation. In
apocalyptic narratives, authors typically write about the decline of humanity,
which requires an apocalypse to “cleanse” our world. The downside of this style
of literature is that apocalypses are typically written as unpreventable, which
gives readers a sense of helplessness.
Evolutionary narratives often do the opposite—since
change is slow, readers feel that they can stop or at least be well-prepared if
that situation comes to light, since these narratives often take place in a
future that could happen if our society continues to go down the path it is.
However, there is often less control felt in those situations about how to live
their lives—usually, characters have to adapt to their environment and hope that
they are the fittest. Evolutionary literature can represent either decline or
progress, depending on the authors’ perspective. Narratives of the future help
us as individuals and as a society understand that our path must change for us
to survive the future, and help us better understand what each of us can do to
ensure that this occurs. Ideally, these narratives will be followed by
progress—for example, after reading Fahrenheit 451, readers will
hopefully learn to be more engaged in conversation, thinking, and literature.
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