Themes: Patter Recognition

Internet and the Prospects of Online Social networks

In Patter Recognition, the author utilizes the Internet to give readers a feeling of present day.  Internet seems to be the center of the main theme throughout this novel.  The Internet and social networks allow characters in the story to instantly communicate from various locations around the world.  Gibson introduces his “Pattern Recognition” world by exemplifying the idea that mysterious media and footage can be leaked into the online world allowing online users the opportunity to be involved in their own community.  The online world allows Cayce to escape her real life and escape confrontation in the real world. 

Globalization

The novel’s language incorporates the theme and aspects of Globalization. The characters varying nationalities represent globalization.  The international travel that takes place further supports the theory of Globalization.  A large factor of Globalization within Patter Recognition is the instant communication that occurs through the Internet and social networks.  Within the first eighty pages of the novel, the author exposes as e-mail conversation between two main characters to exemplify portable instant communication.  Even if individuals are on opposite sides of the world, they can instantly reach each other through our universal online connection. 

Insight to Life

In William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily,” the point of view consistently remains first person plural.  From this point of view, readers get a taste of a mysterious image of what might really be on the inside of main character Emily’s house.  If the point of view shifted to first person singular instead of first person plural, there would be some drastic changes within the story. 

If the story were told from Tobe, the servant’s point of view, the reader’s insight to Emily’s life would significantly change.  No longer would one have to infer about Emily’s daily actions or thoughts.  Tobe’s point of view would explain those actions from a personal first hand experience.  The story might focus more on Emily’s actual life rather than focusing on the town’s people’s views and thoughts of Emily.  The mystery of Emily’s life will be told and secrets would no longer be hidden.  Emily’s struggle with death with her loved ones would be revealed by Tobe, who is the only one seen coming and going from the home.  The most drastic change within the story would be the insight Tobe would have about the poisen Emily bought and the death of Homer. Even if "A Rose for Emily" shifted point of views the theme would not shift too.  The theme of change and the power of death would remain untouched. 

"All Watched OVer By Machines of Loving Grace"

In “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” Richard Brautigan exposes two contrasting ideas of nature and technology.  His very first stanza seems to describe a peaceful utopian society, where computers and nature join to form a better future society.  A very anti-technology tone presents itself throughout the poem, yet a pro technology tone ironically counter balances it.

Richard Brautigan’s first line in the first stanza, “ a cybernetic meadow where mammals and computers live together,” (3-4) provides readers with a feeling of cognitive dissidence.  Throughout “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace,” Brautigan utilizes a plethora of contradicting ideas such as, “cybernetic meadow”(3) and “cybernetic ecology”(18) in order to present a reader with a anti-technology tone.  He employs such a tone to describe the idea that technology slowly tampers and destroys our natural habitat throughout our universe, whether land or sea.  The use of figurative language is also present throughout the poem, further supporting the anti-technology tone. The simile in the second stanza, “ as if they were flowers with spinning blossoms” (15-16) ironically compares computers to flowers.  This simile emphasizes technologies destruction of nature and the beauty of our universe.  An individual would never hope that computers would replace beautiful flowers in nature, hence the anti-technologic tone that is present. 

Aside from the overbearing anti-technology tone that a reader may often construe after reading this poem, Brautigan’s poem can still be seen in a different manner.  It is though a pro-technology tone may also be present throughout the poem.  Brautigan’s lines, “mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony”(5-6) could often be interpreted as individuals embracing technology and the miraculous things it has done for our world.  The first simile, “Pure water touching clear sky”(7-8) allows readers to imagine the purity that technology can bring to the world. 

After reading the poem over and over again I like to believe that Brautigan writes this poem from a pro-technology tone.  Technology influences our society and world every day more and more, therefore we need to accept technology for the goodness that it brings to our lives.  Even though anti-technology tone seems more present and understandable through this poem, my overall sense is that the poet really meant for this poem to be pro-technology hence the optimistic title, “All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace.”