Science Fiction in Literature

Science fiction introduces and discusses ideas, as any form of literature would do.  Behind the stories lies a deeper meaning, exploring events of the present as well as the past and future.  Science fiction is a form of literature, as literature is a written work representing a language or people.  The author’s background also contributes to the meaning of the text as we interpret his/her message through reading. All forms of literature are important because they affect us in different ways, speak to us, and they are universal.  Writer Robert Stevenson says, “The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.”

Ender's Game

Ender’s Game, published in 1985, is a science fiction novel written by Orson Scott Card.  In this novel, young talented children are taken to a training center in order to prepare for an invasion that is to occur again.  Ender Wiggin, the youngest child, is seen as a smart and strong leader and carries his team above and beyond.  While Ender wins all of his “games”, he doesn’t realize how much of an effect these games have on his real life, as he begins to confuse what is real and what is not.  While the novel takes place in the future, it shows how reliant we become on computers and how difficult it can be to distinguish between computer games and reality.  Politics is also included in the novel, as the children must find a way to outsmart the controlling and manipulative adults.  Ender represents good and innocence because he continues to keep his positive attitude and understands even his enemies.  With his kind ways and the sacrifices he makes, he brings on an optimistic attitude that is able to deliver the message of the story, that people must be forgiving and see the good in others.

I think that science fiction is true literature and it belongs entirely.  Science fiction holds content from various settings and ideas.  As we look into the text we can learn more about reality, although it isn’t always addressed directly.  It is just as literary as other types, such as romantic, political, comic, and detective literature.  This is true because just like the others, it is able to express itself and tell a story, all while influencing the mind of its readers.

Intertextuality

When thinking of the term intertextuality, a million of different thoughts and ideas ran through my mind. I have seen so many movies and read enough literature to have had that deja vu, or in this case deja lu feeling that would make literature seen in a different and more understandable light. I automatically thought of the connection between literary work's Romeo and Juliet, and West Side Story.

Romeo & Juliet West Side Story

Romeo and Juliet is commonly known as this vigorous love story between a girl and a boy who's love is separated by their rivaling families. Juliet, on the Capulet side and Romeo, a Montague, are forced to have this famously known "forbidden love." In the play West Side Story, there is almost the same exact set up, just much more modernly played out. The two rivaling families that we once knew in Romeo and Juliet become the Jets and the Sharks, two New York City rival gangs. When Tony, a former member of the Jets meets Maria, sister to Shark's leader Bernardo, their love becomes very visible and unstoppable. They begin to meet in secret to keep their love strong and away from harm. In both plays, there is always that talk about that 'last straw' confrontational fight/battle as well. I read Romeo and Juliet in middle school and saw West Side Story through theatre and through literary passages. I automatically related and thought of Romeo and Juliet when reading/watching West Side Story, which made it much more familiar and classic.


 I believe that West Side Story was purposely based off of Romeo and Juliet and the intertextuality was supposed to be fairly clear. I think that they both illuminated one another and made thinking back on Romeo and Juliet more interesting and enjoyable.

Intertextuality: Cinderella

Intertextuality plays an important role in literature as it helps readers compare two texts.  The texts can vary from having the same theme and details, to having only one thing in common that can be pulled out and compared.  Overtime, numerous amounts of texts begin to carry out similar ideas and these can easily be compared.  When comparing the texts, there seems to be a conversation going on between the two.

Cinderella and Prince Charming

When I was a little girl I grew up watching Disney’s Cinderella.  As the years went by I began to notice other versions of the same movie, some with direct similarities, and others with a completely different plot.  My favorite version was A Cinderella Story starring Hilary Duff.  It was the same story set in a modern time period; similar to the things we are used to seeing.  When I began to learn more about myths and fairytales, I came to find out that this same story was being told a long, long time ago, although it did not have such a happy ending in the original versions.

By having different versions of the same text, the audience is able to choose what they like and do not like, sort of creating their own story.  Also, having various versions can make understanding the text more interesting when it is compared.  The story of Cinderella will stick with me forever, all of the details and characters, and no matter what text I get into in the future, having this solid background helps in every way.  I’ll always have something to compare new texts to.

If I were to choose another text to compare Cinderella to it would be The Princess Diaries.  In the beginning of the two stories, the main characters start off as average girls who are not given much attention as they live their daily lives.  Throughout the middle they go through extreme makeovers making them more noticeable, and at the end both girls become princesses and everyone loves them.  Seeing the magic appear in both stories makes me so happy!  It’s always a nice and motivating idea to think about, reminding the audience that anything is possible.