Preview

Literary Analysis: E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops"

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
545 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Literary Analysis: E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops"
Mini Analysis #1

Religion, by definition, is a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. Usually, the presence of religion in one’s life is beneficial; it brings a more positive outlook on life, and motivates people to life their lives in a more proper manner that helps them avoid sinful or harmful decisions in life. In every religion throughout the world, there is a leader or higher power that is worshipped or praised. There is usually a minister or some type of director of these religions that guide the ‘followers’ of that religion that helps them life their life in a fashion that pleases their deity. However, being too dependent or obedient to your religious leader can hinder creativity and independence, thus resulting in resentment and rebellion towards said leader or the religion itself. In E.M. Forester’s short story, “ The Machine Stops” we see a society living solely through the rein of a machine. Everything that the people say, do, think, etc. is controlled by the all-powerful Machine. The main character, Vashti, is so in favor of and faithful to the Machine that she neglects her own son simply because the Machine tells her that she must. On multiple occasions, she is known to show her allegiance and devotion to the Machine by coming to its defense by saying things like, “You mustn’t say anything against the Machine” (Forster pg. 2). This shows the reader that she is over endowed to the Machine and has irrevocable faith in its commands as well as how dominant the Machine is in her life. As mentioned before, too much obedience to your leader can have catastrophic effects that often lead to both minor and severe acts of revolution. The most extreme example of this would be the ‘family’ of Charles Manson. This was a religious cult peaking in the late 1960’s, known for ‘helter skelter’ and mass suicides. Psychotic leader Manson was like the dictating Machine in several ways. He had

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    In a society that offers no hope of happiness or release from struggle and suffering, people quite naturally begin to place their hopes elsewhere. They respond to their condition by hoping for something that lies outside the conditions and constraints they cannot control or influence. Religion becomes some kind of hope for rescue from life. Religion responds by offering either internalization to a spiritual realm or an external hope of a better world and a better life beyond the pale of death.…

    • 4035 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Religion encourages citizens to be more virtuous. In the words of Tocqueville, “it [religion] facilitates their use of it [freedom],” meaning that without religion to bound human intellect, members of a democracy would not be able to make use of freedom (Tocqueville 280). Religion also teaches delayed gratification which prevents people from falling into an endless spiral of greed. Most importantly, “faith alone is the permanent state of humanity,” and without faith, humans would lose the part of themselves that gives them hope for the future (Tocqueville 284). Hope fuels humanity, and religion is “only a particular form of hope” that is potent enough to drive humanity to greatness (Tocqueville…

    • 1715 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    A religion or religious system is a dynamic, living reality. While it can be identified and studied through characteristics such as rituals and sacred texts, it is in essence a living thing, which is given expression through all its characteristics. As dynamic, living realities, religions help provide meaning for those who follow them.…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is one of the pillars of society. It can be used to rule the common with fair and just practice or it can be used for a rulers own self-improvement and greed. Many times over the course of world history religion is misconstrued and leads individuals to believe self-interrupted version of its holy text. Two of the most prominent religions in world history Islam and Christianity were used to empower those in high authority. This point is made clear with the documents discussed, and show readers that religion is nothing more than tool for the intellect to take advantage of the common masses of society.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is more than individual faith; it is an impactful orientation to a purpose far greater than one person. Long stated how religion is “an orientation in the ultimate sense, that is, how one comes to terms with the ultimate significance of one’s place in the world” (p. 7). It is often within the realm of religion that people find power in their own…

    • 3597 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Machinal was written by Sophie Treadwell, a woman attempting to make her mark in a male dominated society and in a male dominated work sphere (as an author and playwright). This was in a time when it was considered a tenet of social life to accept a woman’s role was to facilitate the life of the man to whom she belongs. To reach above the kitchen shelf and attempt men’s work or to enter the men’s world was frowned upon and was punished by the social system. A woman in the wrong field or operating socially as equal to a male would either have to work under a different, male, identity or be met by severe criticism and gender based discrimination, her works largely ignored or peremptorily dismissed as inferior.…

    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This paper is intended to show how religion is perceived to have several common elements but in essence that is not a true statement based on the terminology used to describe “religious practices”. People believe that typically religions have overlapping themes such as: higher powers to worship, followers, codes of conduct or morals, and a place of worship, however not all do. Because the term religion arose in western society it mainly only focuses on western culture and may not fully encompass the beliefs of different cultures in other parts of…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    First what does the term Religion? Clifford Geertz argues that: Religion is a cultural system that creates powerful and long-lasting meaning, by establishing symbols that relate humanity to beliefs and values. ( Geertz 63) Religions have symbols, traditions, writings and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe and the afterlife. They tend to emphasize morality, ethics, laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the universe and human nature.…

    • 2979 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is a set of beliefs of which concern the cause, nature, and purpose of the world. Especially when it is a particular religion. These religions usually involve devotional and ritual observances, and they often contain a moral code which each person must follow. Religion provides many things to different people, for many it can represent hope and for others it is a symbol of control and it gives people a purpose by giving each person a set of guidelines to live by. Religion benefits many people and many communities; it can benefit individuals by developing them spiritually and giving them a purpose. For communities it can…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What is religion? How strong can it impact a nation? Religion is a system of faith and worship. Religion can strongly affect a nation because in the seventeenth century people were far more religious than in the eighteenth century. The importance of religion declined from the seventeenth century to the eighteenth century because of Deism who were enlightenment thinkers and by the lack of attending church that lead the colonist to respond by having a Great Awakening.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Religion defines people by giving guidelines, which they should follow, while living their lives. Within religion there are two different types of people, the pretenders and the “true” followers. Pretenders are people that call upon God only when needed, unlike those who truly follow their religion on a serious basis. A “true” believer is one who full-heartedly worships the spirit of God and puts God into their daily routines. These people influence others as their actions help to shape society into what it is to become. As times continue to change, religious views still have great affects on multiple societies.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion has a form that can be seen and measured. It’s a contained environment that has walls and expectations. It’s a place you can learn to exist in — and even appear to succeed. You can adapt to its rules, you can play its game. But it has a glass ceiling — which limits how far you are allowed to stray.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion is a characteristic that people can choose to have a part of their lives. In Europe, specifically starting from the 12th century, religion was a significant aspect to a Christian’s everyday lifestyle. Religious traditions were pushed upon students in schools, people looked to the church for guidance, and ideas were frowned upon if they did not fit with the traditions of the church. The church enforced religious actions for all citizens to take on. The church was the ruling entity of Europe. It controlled the governmental and societal structures within the European countries. In the period of the 12th century all the way to the 16th century, religion tried to become progressive, but ended up repeating the same conflicts and inflicted religion onto people.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dystopian Vs Today

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Have you ever thought about today’s society becoming a dystopian society? “The Machine Stops” is a story written by E.M. Forester in 1909. For Forester’s story to be 106 years old the book is incredible accurate of today’s society. However, “The Machine Stops” dystopian society differs from today’s society in the way they live, the way they travel, and the way society interacts.…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics