1. 1. HUMAN DIGNITY In 1984 & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM By: Thomas Martin
2. 2. BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL. - LUKE 6:36 (NRSV) In the words of Luke, one can see the connection to both literary works. In the play, A Midsummers Nights Dream, the fairies show mercy to the distraught lovers and to themselves in the forest, while in 1984, there is a lacking sense of mercy.
3. 3. THE THEME OF HUMAN DIGNITY IS BY ITS VERY DEFINITION A PERSON'S RIGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE A HUMAN BEING , INCLUDING ALL ASPECTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. (THE RIGHT TO AN OPINION, BELIEFS, TO SELECT A MATE OF ONES CHOOSING) HUMAN DIGNITY IS THE BASIS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS "DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS ROOTED IN HIS OR HER CREATION IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD." THIS SUGGESTS THAT ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BE AFFORDED A CERTAIN RESPECT. As Madonna once said.
4. 4. 1984 WE HAVE BROKEN YOU UP. YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT YOUR BODY IS LIKE. YOUR MIND IS IN THE SAME STATE. I DO NOT THINK THERE CAN BE MUCH PRIDE LEFT IN YOU(ORWELL, 225) This quote shows how ones sense of dignity can be controlled by others. Winstons sense of dignity is destroyed by others. Not only is Winstons dignity crushed, his oppressors seem to revel in their power to do so. People may cause one to lose their sense of dignity, including their sense of pride.
5. 5. Winston gave up his dignity just to stop the pain, no matter the cost to his person and his subconscious. He would do whatever he could to stop the pain that was inflicted upon him. 1984
6. 6. If you want a picture of the future imagine a boot stamping on a human face- for-ever(Orwell, 220) This quote shows how the party planned to nullify ones sense of dignity, marginalizing the populous into little obedient robots. It is possible to know a person based on looking at their face, the eyes in particular. The 1984
7. 7. This quote shows the effect of a loss of dignity. The individual is made to have no capacity to decipher the truth. One can see the individuals of Orwells 1984 are being made to have no mercy and accept everything. 1984
8. 8. . PREPARE TO DIE FOR DISOBEDIENCE TO YOUR FATHERS WILL, OR ELSE WED DEMETRIUS (SHAKESPEARE 1.1.86-87) A MIDSUMMMER Nights Dream This illustrates how ones dignity could be taken along with their human rights. It shows the cruelty this loss of dignity can instill on oneself, to the point of death.
9. 9. A MIDSUMMMER Nights Dream
10. 10. I am your spaniel; and Demetrius,/ The more you beat me, I will fawn on you:/ Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,/ Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,/ Unworthy as I am, to follow you(2.1.203-207) This shows that Hermia is not valuing or respecting herself. Hermia will go to great depths to fit in and feel loved by Demetrius. She is willing to trade her dignity for his affection. A MIDSUMMMER Nights Dream
11. 11. A MIDSUMMMER Nights Dream
12. 12. I chose these quotations to illustrate the theme human dignity for several reasons. Human dignity is dependent on a persons human nature. If this nature is changed due to traumatic events caused by others, one can lose this dignity. But if one can receive mercy, then the person can try to rebuild or retain his or her dignity. My chosen quotes allowed me to show what might happen if one receives mercy and if one does not. The quotes also allowed for one to see the depths one can go to fit in and feel loved. This is important to all human beings. From the quotations I chose, one can see how people can think of other human lives as being marginalized and the cruelty this loss of dignity can entail.
13. 13. I choose the sound file (Another Story - The Head and the Heart) because the lyrics state that A world [is] turning in on itself which is how one would feel if he or she loses his or her dignity. I felt that the melody was appropriate for the subject; the gentle tones were very close to Shakespeares dream world, while the repeated strumming of the guitar cords could be connected to 1984 . I chose the images as they connected to the theme of human dignity and mercy, and the very different works of literature represented in this media essay. The layout elements and animations were chosen for their ability to gain the audiences attention, and to show a sense of progression through the essay. There was an effort to draw attention to key points regarding the theme. All these things helped me to illustrate the theme of human dignity. I was really inspired to add these elements together to make the best media work possible with the technology I had.
14. 14. THE THEME OF ALLIES AND FRIENDS IS A COMMON LINK TO HUMAN DIGNITY IN BOTH LITERARY WORKS AND TODAYS WORLD. IN OUR WORLD, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BEING DIS-RESPECTED AND ABUSED. THIS EFFECTS THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHO CAN ACQUIRE THE SAME TRAITS. THIS THEME ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE MERCY AND RESPECT THAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD SHOULD SHOW THEM. IN OUR WORLD, NOW, THERE IS A CHANGE IN PERCEPTION BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, THESE TWO COUNTRIES ARE ABLE TO HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, AND APPARENT TRUST. THIS SITUATION IS SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH OCCURRED IN 1984. THIS OCCURRED, AS WELL, IN MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, WHEN EGEUS ACCEPTING LYSANDER AS HIS SON IN LAW. THE ABILITY TO CHOSE ONES ENEMIES AS WELL AS ONES FRIENDS IS A HUMAN RIGHT AFFORDED TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL AND HAVE DIGNITY.
15. 15. WORK CITED ORWELL, GEORGE, AND ERICH FROMM. 1984: A NOVEL. NEW YORK, N.Y.: SIGNET CLASSIC, 1961. PRINT. SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM, AND TREVOR R. GRIFFITHS. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. CAMBRIDGE [ENGLAND: CAMBRIDGE UP, 1996. PRINT. "THE HEAD AND THE HEART - ANOTHER STORY [OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO]." YOUTUBE. YOUTUBE. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "DIGNITY." WIKIPEDIA. WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "DIGNITY QUOTES." DIGNITY QUOTES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "SISYPHUS." BY OV-ART ON DEVIANTART. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "NO MERCY WALLPAPER." BY STICKBRUSH ON DEVIANTART. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "STORIES ARCHIVES - WORDABLES." WORDABLES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "THE TOWN SCRYER: IMAGES OF FEAR AND OF HUNGER." THE TOWN SCRYER: IMAGES OF FEAR AND OF HUNGER. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR." , "IF YOU WANT A VISION OF THE FUTURE, IMAGINE A... WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREACT ONE SCENE ONE." A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM REVIEW." CONTACTMUSIC.COM. 8 MAR. 2005. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM PAINTED BY THOMAS STOTHARD RA, ENGRAVED BY JAMES HEATH ENGRAVER TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS RH THE PRINCE OF WALES." MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM PAINTED BY THOMAS STOTHARD RA, ENGRAVED BY JAMES HEATH ENGRAVER TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS RH THE PRINCE OF WALES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015. "CORE VALUES: A REFLECTION ON HUMAN DIGNITY - GEORGIA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY." GEORGIA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY. 8 APR. 2014. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.