By reading as far as chapter 109, I feel you truly learn the positive and negative characteristic of Autism. Also, the disappearance of Christopher’s mother is highly suspicious. In the beginning of the novel I could tell there was something different about Chris. Soon after reading you find out he has Autism. His incident in the police office really shows how autism can affect his understanding of things. For example on page 7 Chris is being asked questions by the police officer and then states “He was asking to many questions and he was asking them too quickly.
They were stacking up in my head like loaves in the factory where Uncle Terry works. The factory is a bakery and he operates the slicing machines. And sometimes a slicer is not working fast enough but the bread keeps coming and there is a blockage. I sometimes think of my mind as a machine, but not always as a bread-slicing machine. It makes it easier to explain to other people what is going on inside it. ” Though this is considered a negative characteristic Chris manages to pull through and collect his thoughts. Leading into my next point, Chris is most defiantly a very bright boy.
Being the narrator of the novel you learn more and more about how autism affects his brain. However Chris shows high intelligence. An example of this is shown when Chris is talking about his A-level math exams. On page 44 he says “I am going to prove that I’m not stupid. Next month I’m going to take my A level in maths and I’m going to get an A grade. No one has ever taken an A level at our school before.. ” A level would be considered a grade 11 university math test in Canada. Chris excels with numbers and mathematics and is very confident he will get the grade he deserves.
When introduced to Chris’ Family, you only meet his father and himself. Chris briefly tells the reader about the death of his mother. Chris came home from school to his upset father, his dad informed Chris his mother was in the hospital; however never let Chris go visit her. His father told him 2 weeks later she had passed away. The suspicion was suspected when Mrs. Alexander started to open her mouth constantly. A conversation between Chris and Mrs. Alexander on page 58 led me to believe Chris’ mother is alive.
Though the conversation was too long to use as an example one of the statements made by Mrs. Alexander was “Mrs. Alexander put her hand over her mouth and said, oh dear dear dear. But she didn’t answer my question. So I asked her the same question again because in a murder mystery novel when someone doesn’t want to answer questions it is because they are trying to keep a secret or trying to stop someone from getting into trouble, which means that the answers to those questions are the most important of all, and that is why the detective has to put that person under pressure.
But Mrs. Alexander still didn’t answer, Instead she asked me a question. She said, so you don’t know?.. ” the conversation then continues with Mrs. Alexander asking Chris to go on a walk with her, however he refuses because she is still considered a stranger to him. It is obvious that somebody has been lying in the past.
Discussion 3 question
Poli113 Chinese / Japanese political thoughts
Answer questions and reply to peers
1. Does the notion of the “Mandate of Heaven” fulfill the purposes of the Socratic noble lie effectively? (reply 150 words)
Ruilin Hu:
(reply / comment peer 100 words)Although the “Mandate of Heaven” might have been a preferable Socratic noble lie for the rulers of ancient China, this theory lacks explanations of specific questions I seek answers for in my personal and professional life. For example, the Confucian “Mandate of Heaven” focuses on the possibility of overthrowing a terrible ruler who failed to care for the people (Chan 93). Precisely because it fabricates the noble lie from a broad perspective, Confucius’s philosophy summarizes the noble lie by requiring people to follow the will of Heaven (45). I have to admit that this concept of Heaven’s appointment might be a comforting thought in peaceful times, during which I do not have to make difficult decisions constantly. However, it failed to provide practical guidance to ordinary individuals on what to do during such a revolution. Since I have hardly waited for external directions in my life, and I do not “read between the lines” of everyday activities, I will feel baffled if I try to follow the “Mandate of Heaven” in chaotic times.Poli 131 – The Chinese revolution
Question :
1. Why do you think Chinese intellectuals would have been attracted to Marxism in the early 20th century, despite China’s “backwardness””? What problems would they have encountered in applying it to China? ( reply 150 words )
Jing Zou ( comment / reply 150 words )I think that Chinese intellectuals in the 20th century would be attracted to Marxism in several ways. The first is that Marxism brought enlightened ideas to Chinese intellectuals; for example, the New Culture Movement. In these movements, Marxism was converted into a guiding ideology in the capacity of being a foreign idea. Second, the demand of the working class that Marxism espoused historical materialism; and advocated a society in which labor and capitalism developed together. In the 20th century China, Marxism became the immediate need of the working class; it naturally became the demand of the people in practice. When foreign cultures flowed in when a country needed a dominant ideology; and just in time for the country’s development, they attracted intellectuals and became the main direction of development. They encounter difficulties in applying it to China, such as trying to change the traditional thinking of the people; thus accepting the new guiding ideology. Or, to understand the true meaning of Marxism and the changes it can bring to Chinese society.