Social Action Response: Goliath

   Henry Kiem

   812

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield isa an amazing historical fiction book that draws you in and doesn't let go. This book. has social issues written all over it. I think that the most interesting  of these issues is actually the relationship between the two main characters, Alex and Deryn. Throughout the book these two characters are trying to save the world by solving mysteries and fighting enemy japanese and german soldiers. The book takes place in 1912 so social classes are definitely established.

   The first Social class issue I noticed was immediate in the book. Alex is a prince who could become Emperor of Austria Hungary because he has a letter from the emperor. Deryn is a common girl who is actually disguising herself as a boy so she can fight in the british air service. Already quite complex. But when you find out that Alex's assistant and councilor, Vulgar, doesn't want him to be friends with Deryn because she is a commoner they break into an argument. I think this happens all the time in real life. For example, when two cliques form even in middle school, usually friends are established within the group. This book shows issues like this all the time.

   But the story gets even more dramatic. When Alex finds out Deryn is a girl he is heart broken. He thought he had made a true friend but now that true friend had betrayed him. However, Deryn thinks she loves him and so at a extremely dramatic moment (on top of the giant flying whales back) she kisses him. Now you can imagine how many issues this causes. If the British captain finds out she gets kicked off the ship. If Vulgar finds out he will take Alex away from the Leviathon (there ship) and that would make both Alex and Deryn very sad. Again, stuff like this happens all the time in real life cliques.

   I think this book is a really great book because its heart throbbing and extremely addictive. You cant put it down; however, it also has a deeper message. Showing that it doesn't matter what people say outside of your friendship as long as you are comfortable.

Reading Response, Dec 6

   Reading Response

   Call of the Wild

How does this text make you think about justice in the world?

     In "Call of the Wild" by Jack London, a house dog named buck is captured for the mushers that needed sled dogs for the gold rush. I think that this story definitely has a justice moral because the dogs are being taken from their homes, sold, and then placed in very life threatening situations. The dogs have to run through treacherous conditions and the journey is extremely dangerous. I think that this proves that injustice is every where. Even in animals.

     In the book Buck originally lives with a wealthy family in southern california before one of the house workers betrays him and secretly sells him to a dealer. The dealer than sends Buck to a tamer who then sells the dog to Mushers. Mushers are people who use sleds pulled by dogs to get around the arctic tundra where the gold rush is taking place. I think this is a good example of injustice not just against the owner of the dog but the actual dog.  I think a better system was people who wanted to become mushers doing the gold rush would have to get their own dogs and the system was much more organized; then again they dont give it the name "gold RUSH" for nothing. People dropped everything to get out west during these times.

   A little ways through the story when buck gets to the dog camp after being taken by one of the house workers to a train, another occurrence of injustice. Buck, in all his rage from being take from his warm home  to this cold wasteland tries to attack the dog handler. The dog handler clubs him. Again and again Buck is beaten. I think this part was especially interesting because most of the story so far has been told from Buck's perspective. In fact, it seems like the dogs talk to each other. I think the author, Jack London, was trying to show that dogs like people can communicate emotions and feelings. What I dont understand is why this particular part was not told from Buck's perspective. Maybe London was trying to show how the human's felt about hurting these dogs. maybe he was trying to show that these humans show no sympathy when it comes to what is between them and their money. 

   After thinking, I have decided that this text doesn't really make me think about justice (at least not yet) but more about injustice and how it can affect a mentality. Would it really have been posible for there to have been an organized and justified system back then? Does a person really care about anything but money? Yes of course. However, the idea during the gold rush was to be the first one there so there was no time for a justified system or a slow going training camp.