The
End (5/23-6/4): Reflection & Synthesis
This week you will be finishing your books.
As you read I want you to think about how the book ends in relation
to how it started. Imagine if you could create a memorial to honor
something from this book.
1. How did the main character change?
2. What are the important ideas (conflicts,
character traits, people, places) that you would want to include in
your memorial?
3. How would these ideas be represented (what
symbols, colors, materials, etc would you use)?
Posting assignment:
Posting assignment:
-
Answer the questions listed above.
Post your idea of the most significant/important
thing to memorialize from your book (consider both the perspective
represented AND the main character). Explain WHY you would want to
memorialize those traits, actions, etc.
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Respond to other posts by asking questions, providing memorial suggestions, or offering your opinion.
But is creating a bomb responsible for so much death something you really want to stay determined with?
ReplyDeleteDue to the constant need to adapt while working on the Manhattan project, a multitude of characters did just that. Such as Harry Gold: Your Run-Of-The-Mill International Man of Mystery. He was kind, smart, and determined. Blended in just enough that no one would ever suspect him of being a spy. He was able to go around unnoticed, and if he ever was detected, people tended to dismiss his actions. He was just Harry Gold, after all-- what's the worst he could be doing? Well, it turns out that being a Soviet spy is pretty high on that list. So what exactly got him into this whole kerfuffle? Well, "Some spies do it for the money; others are trying to change the world. Gold's reasons were a lot less dramatic. He was thankful to Black for getting him a job and wanted to repay the debt." Becoming a Soviet courier gave him an opportunity to not just aid Black, but the Soviet people as well-- and whoo boy did he do both. Originally he didn't see much wrong with what he was doing; he was still helping people, yes--? It didn't really matter to Gold what country they were from. At one point, when he realized he was batting for the other team, he asked what would happen if he didn't want to do it anymore. He was told he'd be exposed to the authorities and life as he knew it would be over. This, ladies and gentlemen (I may actually be the only girl reading this book, so that could be a false statement), is what we call blackmail. So he buckled down and decided to do the job he'd been hired for. Boom, almost 300 words for just character change-- this is going to be a long post.
ReplyDeleteAlright, so what were some important ideas? Well, let's start with conflict: I've talked about this before, but the scientists throughout the book are kinda dealing with moral battles. Really, why would they want to create something so deadly? All it's going to do is end up hurting people, right? Well, that's what pretty much everyone is thinking, and is unsure if they should value their country over the lives of so many. But, due to character traits that seem to be present in a large portion of the scientists, their determination and loyalty shine through in the end.
Now, as to WHY I'd want to memorialize these things, well: The stark character shift Gold exhibits through the book truly displays how ideology and reputation can affect how someone acts. Gold, originally a relatively tame man, betrayed his country for the sake of helping others. While admirable, he went about it in the wrong way, giving away valuable information to the Soviets. No one suspected him, as, really, he couldn't picture himself being a spy either. At least, that's not how he viewed it at first. Eventually, though, he started not like the whole James Bond business and wanted out. But, Moscow wasn't too inclined to let that happen. As for the internal struggle this must have lit inside of Gold; Panic attack inducing.
OKAY THAT WAS LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, WHOOPS.
DeleteI agree with the fact it would be good to make exhibits for the people that were a big part of the Atomic Bomb.
DeleteI didn't know we had to write a book Macey.
DeleteI think the most important thing was in the epilogue and that thing is the hydrogen bomb. I think this was the most significant because the Atomic Bomb a massive bomb that could destroy almost everything and the fact that America decided to create a bomb called the hydrogen bomb, which is 500 times more powerful than the bomb the could almost kill everything on it’s own. Then once they had this bomb created the countries decided to get rid of it because it could destroy all humanity. This is a big deal because now the world can't be destroyed in one big blow anymore.
ReplyDeleteYeah that is true, it’s horrifying to think that we have enough fire power to literally blow up the world.
DeleteIf I was to create a memorial to honor/represent this book this is what it would be like. There would be a life size shell of the Atomic and Hydrogen bomb hanging from the ceiling. To go along with the bombs there would be a plaque next to the bombs with the name on the bomb and the list of all the scientists that helped design and build it. There would be flags hanging over the entrance. The flags would be of all the countries in world war 2. There would be a big screen with how the bomb was made and what it did. Finally there would be stats comparing it to other large bombs to prove the damage it can actually do.
ReplyDeleteThat'd actually be a really cool project! Expect, a life-sized a-bomb would be absolutely massive.
Delete*Except
DeleteI agree with Maecy that is a really good idea, like super good.
DeleteI like how Gold become more and more involved with spying for the Soviets until the point where he got so involved that he couldn't handle it anymore. At first it started out as a payback favor for Black, but then gradually I think Gold started to enjoy it. He kept doing what he was asked and rarely complained. Then he got so wrapped up in it that he started getting followed by the FBI, and he finally told them who he really was.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the book, Oppenheimer was exited to make something for America, but then at the end of the book he was sad because he knew he used what he loved, (physics) to make a bomb that would kill many people. I think what would be a great memorial would be, Oppenheimer sitting at his desk leaning his head on his left hand, thinking, because he did a lot of thinking during the making of the bomb, and after, that was a big conflict for him thinking of those killed, and fear of what would be done with the bombs in the future. It would have no color, and would be made out of Limestone.
ReplyDelete