HUMAN DIGNITY

In

1984

&

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

By: Thomas Martin

BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.

- LUKE 6:36 (NRSV)

In the words of Luke, one can see the connection to both

literary works. In the play, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, the

fairies show mercy to the distraught lovers and to themselves

in the forest, while in 1984, there is a lacking sense of mercy.

THE THEME OF HUMAN DIGNITY IS BY ITS VERY DEFINITION A PERSON'S RIGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE

A HUMAN BEING , INCLUDING ALL ASPECTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. (THE RIGHT TO AN OPINION, BELIEFS,

TO SELECT A MATE OF ONE’S CHOOSING)

HUMAN DIGNITY IS THE BASIS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS "DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS ROOTED IN HIS OR HER CREATION IN

THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD." THIS SUGGESTS THAT ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BE AFFORDED A

CERTAIN RESPECT.

As Madonna once said….

1984

“… WE HAVE BROKEN YOU UP.

YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT YOUR

BODY IS LIKE. YOUR MIND IS IN THE

SAME STATE. I DO NOT THINK

THERE CAN BE MUCH PRIDE LEFT IN

YOU…”(ORWELL, 225)

This quote shows how one’s sense of dignity

can be controlled by others. Winston’s sense

of dignity is destroyed by others. Not only is

Winston’s dignity crushed, his oppressors

seem to revel in their power to do so. People

may cause one to lose their sense of dignity,

including their sense of pride.

Winston gave up his dignity

just to stop the pain, no

matter the cost to his person

and his subconscious. He

would do whatever he could

to stop the pain that was

inflicted upon him.

1984

“…If you want a picture of the future imagine a

boot stamping on a human face- for-

ever”(Orwell, 220)

This quote shows how the party planned

to nullify one’s sense of dignity,

marginalizing the populous into little

obedient robots. It is possible to know a

person based on looking at their face,

the eyes in particular. The boot became

the face of the future.

1984

This quote shows the effect of a

loss of dignity. The individual

is made to have no capacity to

decipher the truth. One can see

the individuals of Orwell’s 1984

are being made to have no

mercy and accept everything.

1984

“…. PREPARE TO DIE FOR

DISOBEDIENCE TO YOUR FATHER’S

WILL, OR ELSE WED DEMETRIUS”

(SHAKESPEARE 1.1.86-87)

A MIDSUMMMER Night’s Dream

This illustrates how one’s dignity

could be taken along with their

human rights. It shows the cruelty

this loss of dignity can instill on

oneself, to the point of death.

A MIDSUMMMER Night’s Dream

“… I am your spaniel; and Demetrius,/ The more

you beat me, I will fawn on you:/ Use me but as

your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,/ Neglect me, lose

me; only give me leave,/ Unworthy as I am, to

follow you…”(2.1.203-207)

This shows that Hermia is not valuing or respecting

herself. Hermia will go to great depths to fit in and

feel loved by Demetrius. She is willing to trade her

dignity for his affection.

A MIDSUMMMER Night’s Dream

A MIDSUMMMER Night’s Dream

I chose these quotations to illustrate the theme human dignity for several reasons. Human

dignity is dependent on a person’s human nature. If this nature is changed due to traumatic

events caused by others, one can lose this dignity. But if one can receive mercy, then the

person can try to rebuild or retain his or her dignity. My chosen quotes allowed me to show

what might happen if one receives mercy and if one does not. The quotes also allowed for

one to see the depths one can go to fit in and feel loved. This is important to all human

beings. From the quotations I chose, one can see how people can think of other human lives

as being marginalized and the cruelty this loss of dignity can entail.

I choose the sound file (Another Story - The Head and the Heart) because the lyrics state that “A

world [is] turning in on itself” which is how one would feel if he or she loses his or her dignity. I felt

that the melody was appropriate for the subject; the gentle tones were very close to Shakespeare’s

dream world, while the repeated strumming of the guitar cords could be connected to 1984 . I chose

the images as they connected to the theme of human dignity and mercy, and the very different works

of literature represented in this media essay. The layout elements and animations were chosen for

their ability to gain the audience’s attention, and to show a sense of progression through the essay.

There was an effort to draw attention to key points regarding the theme. All these things helped me

to illustrate the theme of human dignity. I was really inspired to add these elements together to

make the best media work possible with the technology I had.

THE THEME OF ALLIES AND FRIENDS IS A COMMON LINK TO HUMAN DIGNITY IN BOTH LITERARY WORKS AND

TODAY’S WORLD. IN OUR WORLD, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BEING DIS-RESPECTED AND ABUSED. THIS EFFECTS

THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHO CAN ACQUIRE THE SAME TRAITS. THIS THEME ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE

MERCY AND RESPECT THAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD SHOULD SHOW THEM. IN OUR WORLD, NOW, THERE IS A

CHANGE IN PERCEPTION BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FOR THE

FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, THESE TWO COUNTRIES ARE ABLE TO HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, AND APPARENT

TRUST. THIS SITUATION IS SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH OCCURRED IN 1984. THIS OCCURRED, AS WELL, IN

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, WHEN EGEUS ACCEPTING LYSANDER AS HIS SON IN LAW. THE ABILITY TO CHOSE

ONE’S ENEMIES AS WELL AS ONE’S FRIENDS IS A HUMAN RIGHT AFFORDED TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL AND HAVE

DIGNITY.

WORK CITED

• ORWELL, GEORGE, AND ERICH FROMM. 1984: A NOVEL. NEW YORK, N.Y.: SIGNET CLASSIC, 1961. PRINT.

• SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM, AND TREVOR R. GRIFFITHS. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. CAMBRIDGE [ENGLAND: CAMBRIDGE UP, 1996. PRINT.

• "THE HEAD AND THE HEART - ANOTHER STORY [OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO]." YOUTUBE. YOUTUBE. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "DIGNITY." WIKIPEDIA. WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "DIGNITY QUOTES." DIGNITY QUOTES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "SISYPHUS." BY OV-ART ON DEVIANTART. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "NO MERCY WALLPAPER." BY STICKBRUSH ON DEVIANTART. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "STORIES ARCHIVES - WORDABLES." WORDABLES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "THE TOWN SCRYER: IMAGES OF FEAR AND OF HUNGER." THE TOWN SCRYER: IMAGES OF FEAR AND OF HUNGER. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR." , "IF YOU WANT A VISION OF THE FUTURE, IMAGINE A... WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEAREACT ONE SCENE ONE." A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM REVIEW." CONTACTMUSIC.COM. 8 MAR. 2005. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM PAINTED BY THOMAS STOTHARD RA, ENGRAVED BY JAMES HEATH ENGRAVER TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS RH

THE PRINCE OF WALES." MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM PAINTED BY THOMAS STOTHARD RA, ENGRAVED BY JAMES HEATH ENGRAVER TO HIS

MAJESTY AND HIS RH THE PRINCE OF WALES. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.

• "CORE VALUES: A REFLECTION ON HUMAN DIGNITY - GEORGIA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY." GEORGIA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY. 8 APR.

2014. WEB. 29 JULY 2015.