Reading Inquiry: Who has power in your book? How do they use it?

      Power comes in many different forms. I realized this after my group came up with our reading inquiry; Who has power in your book? How do they use it? I saw that in every book I read this year and the movies I had watched, elements of power and authority were involved. Not by coincidence, but because power means a lot of different things.
       In the book "The Perks Of Being a Wallflower" by Steven Chbosky, the main character Charlie witnesses a drunk girl at a party get raped by her boyfriend. He watched as the boy coaxed the girl, who was drunk and therefore incapable of taking action, to do things against her will. The boyfriend may have been slightly drunk, but there is no question that he abused his power over her weakness. The girl pleaded for him to stop, but he used her lack of strength and his "words of comfort" to force her into doing something she didn't want to. This is something that people do in everyday life. A lot of people don't notice it. But peer pressure, and the prospect of having someone break up with you or stop liking you, can make people do things they wouldn't have otherwise.
      Also in "The Perks Of Being a Wallflower" Charlie's sister and her boyfriend showed a similar kind of power. To me, it seemed like Charlie's sister didn't like guys who were too nice to her, or bowed down to her. But then her boyfriend got mad at her one night and hit her, and she started liking him more. I think this has less to do with his sister being weak than it is her wanting to be around a more authoritative figure, that she had to compete with or impress, rather than someone who was desperate for her attention. Her boyfriend shouldn't have hit her, but what's more worrisome is that his sister wanted his lack of attention. I think this might be one of the (many) reasons people stay in abusive relationships.
        I read the graphic novel "V For Vendetta" by Alan Moore last year and recently watched the movie adaptation. The movie differs a lot from the book, but both tell the story of a fictional period in time (set in 1997) when England becomes a fascist dictatorship, using extreme policies to keep their citizens under their control. It seems that the government officials in V For Vendetta have become numb to the people they have so much power over. This connected to the many countries in the world today who suffer from fascist governments and dictatorships.
         In conclusion, there are many different levels of power that are explored by movies and books alike. It also plays a huge role in our daily lives as students and for people around the world.
     

Social Justice Issues in my Independent Reading Life

       In "Fat Kid Rules the World" by K.L. Going, one of the major themes is bullying. The protagonist Troy's brother, Dayle, gives off the impression that Troy is an "embarrassment". Troy is overweight and doesn't have a social life or any real hobbies. Dayle is athletic, popular, and seemingly the favorite of his father's two sons. Dayle constantly gives Troy the impression that he is unwanted and a disgrace to their family.
       I can't imagine having to live in a home where you feel unwanted. It's a problem that a lot of people, at least to me, see as something that can be easily fixed: with positive energy and inspiration. But unless someone jumps into your lonely life and acts as a savior, like Curt did to Troy, how are you supposed to get back up on your feet, again and again without hope that things will change? People need support from others, which is why guidance counselors and supportive peers are so important. It's hard to tell yourself that things will be okay when you're sensitive, or weak, or have experienced loneliness too many times to think it will change. Exclusion is a form of bullying that I find very important to understand and know how to prevent.