I T ’ S A LL P OLITICAL C HAPTER 13 Keana Madrinan Geach 3 9/20/11

Writing “that thinks about human problems, including those in the social and political realm, that addresses the rights of persons and the wrongs of those in power” is political writing (Foster 110). These are pretty much all old books written by deceased people from a century ago and we’re forced to read them in school. According to the author of this book, almost all works of literature is political on some level. What is Political Writing?

In Foster’s chapter, he is indecisive on his opinion on political writing and I actually agree. We complain about having to read these books constantly but these stories usually “don’t travel well, don’t age well and generally aren’t much good in their own time and place” (Foster 109). Overall, political writing can be dull and preachy. Some political writing can actually be pleasing to read. When the writing engages the troubles of the world, it can be intriguing and compelling.

A C HRISTMAS C AROL C HARLES D ICKENS (1843) This Christmas tale is actually a hidden way of “attacking a widely held political belief” (Foster 108). This “Malthusian” belief was by helping deprived people or increasing food production, it would increase the number of malnourished and they would take advantage of the help they are given. This ties in with the story in Scrooge’s selfishness and that he wants nothing to do with the unfortunate people of society. “If they would rather starve than live in the poor house or in debtors’ prison, then by golly, ‘they had best hurry up and do it and decrease the excess population’” (Foster 109). Dickens uses Scrooge to represent us in society and this story is meant to change society through changing us. This Christmas tale is actually a hidden way of “attacking a widely held political belief” (Foster 108). This “Malthusian” belief was by helping deprived people or increasing food production, it would increase the number of malnourished and they would take advantage of the help they are given. This ties in with the story in Scrooge’s selfishness and that he wants nothing to do with the unfortunate people of society. “If they would rather starve than live in the poor house or in debtors’ prison, then by golly, ‘they had best hurry up and do it and decrease the excess population’” (Foster 109). Dickens uses Scrooge to represent us in society and this story is meant to change society through changing us.

R IP V AN W INKLE W ASHINGTON I RVING This story is about a man who was lazy and didn’t provide well. He had met some odd people playing ninepins that he drank with. He falls asleep and wakes up to find he slept for 20 years and that everything has changed. During those twenty years, “the American Revolution has happened, the picture of British King George has been transformed by the proprietors into that of our George (Washington), although with the same face” (Foster 113). He wrote this to tell that even though the general idea of liberty is good, it comes with problems.

T HE F ALL OF THE H OUSE OF U SHER (1839) AND T HE M ASQUE OF THE R ED D EATH (1842) E DGAR A LLAN P OE These stories imply “European monarchy and aristocracy”…”rather than an American place or family” (Foster 112). In both of these stories, Poe criticizes how the levels of class in Europe work, which privileges the lower class, and creates a feeling of damaged and rotting.

O EDIPUS AT C OLONUS (406 B.C.) S OPHOCLES This story is about an Athenian king named Theseus who is “everything we might want in a ruler: strong, wise, gentle, tough, when necessary, determined, cool-headed, compassionate, loyal, [and] honest” (Foster115). Theseus shields Oedipus from any harms and guides him to a sacred area where he is destined to die. This is written towards the end of the Athenian era and he writes this saying that they needed a leader that would help bring back Athens from complete ruin.

G REAT E XPECTATIONS Dickens found his inspiration for this book from the inequalities of Victorian Great Britain and critiques how social classes separated people. “’I am instructed to communicate to him,’ said Mr. Jaggers, throwing his finger at me sideways, ‘that he will come into handsome property’…’be brought up as a gentleman – in a word, as a young fellow of great expectations’” (Dickens 146). How people were sorted into social classes is part of Victorian era behaviors. Also how a gentleman was characterized by his virtues and fortune rather than his gentility. “Dickens is a social critic, but he’s a sneaky one, remaining so consistently entertaining that we may not notice that a major point of his work is to critique social shortcomings” (Foster 109). In HTRLLAP, he is referring to A Christmas Story, but this quote can apply to Great Expectations too.

S O IS ALL LITERARY WORK POLITICAL ? Yes and no. Some of Foster’s more political colleagues would say so because they analyze every story by the time period they were written. They think all stories are part of a social problem or part of the solution of the problem. I think most works relate to specific problem in their time period. Most stories are political though, when you think about it – relation of the levels of power, problems of rights, interactions of races and sexes, etc. – they may not be directly political, but the result could be.

WORKS CITED Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Bantam Dell, Print. Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc., Print. Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Bantam Dell, Print. Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc., Print.