From: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street by Rod Sterling
"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, and prejudices -- to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy. A thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own for the children . . . and the children yet unborn . . ." (p. 368)
Respond to the previous quote:
What does Sterling mean? Do you agree or disagree? Who are the "children yet unborn" he refers to? How will the fallout he is referring to affect these children?
Allow your responses to take on a conversational tone, like in a Socratic Seminar. What I mean by that is: make sure to read the responses of your classmates. Don't simply respond to the questions I put before you, but respond to THEIR comments. Let your thoughts be heard!
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24 comments:
I think he means that the fallout will cahngge the environment for the unborn children and make the environment unsafe so people don't feel safe and may make it so people are unsure of how to act or what to do.
I think he means just what he said. Everything is thought to have a deeper meaning, well no everything does!
Although I do think that he actually meant exactly what trenton says. Although not just fallout and war, every single action, be it good or bad, will have outcomes, foreseen or not, for better or for worse.
I agree with Trenton because I also think that the said unborn children supposed to represent the people of the future. I would like to add that I believe the author is correct in saying that the most vicious weapon is ourselves because just think; why do we get nervous? We are afraid of what WE will do. Why do we take time on our appearance? We are afraid of how WE will look. Why are we afraid of going out of our comfort zones? We're afraid that we'll make a fool out of OURSELVES. Do you agree?
The overall meaning is that words are just as powerful as weapons. The Figures in the sky caused chaos among the slightly dim townsfolk living on maple street leading to streaks of violence and accusation caused by fear.
Jacob K.-
I agree with Delany, our most powerful weapon is ourselves, and the unborn children is the children of the future. Some thoughts that were deadly was the prejuduce between african americans and caucasians in the south during the 1800's, many people fought and even killed each other then. Which is why this story is not limited to... "The Twilight Zone!"
I think he means that words has deep meaning. We all have heard about stories that are passed down through generations, like the unborn child will hear the story of it and be afraid just like the other people on Maple Street were. Words speak louder than actions.
I believe that he means evry single persons thoughts are dangerous.People go to war because sombody doesn't think like they do.The fallout I believe to be a metaphor describing hostile thoughts wich may very well lead to war affecting the next generation and the generation after that ect. ect. ect. Feel free to argue with me.
I agree with Delaney when she says that the unborn children are the next generation and the people of the futer. I also think that Sterling meant that fear and acusations can be just as destructiveas, if not more destructive than, machine guns and nuclear weapons because they cause people to turn on each other, sometimes killing friends or neighbors in their fear.
He's saying that bombs explosives weapons are not what start wars(well at least not all the time.) Its The Thoughts of fear hate or suspicion etc. that bring out the weapons bombs & explosives then which escalate wars and conquest... & along with that a war and hate make worse in the future which affects future generations or the "Children Yet Unborn."
I agree completly with Delaney, Trent and Jacob K, truly the greatest weapon we have in ourselves. We understand how we think and know what others are scared of . Sometimes we scare others just relave the fear that we encompass.
I think you all summed it up pretty well, saying that words of fear are what turn people aginist others and what we do today will always affect the future or "the unborn children". I am not quite sure what the "twilight zone" is (I am not stupid, just don't know what that is) so I can't answer that part. I don't really think this ending says anything about the aliens, but more about people and their fears. Why do you guys think that the human instint is to accuse others when you are faced with fear?
Ooops didn't finnish..........The fallout is the constant fear that we leave behind for others after we die. I.e the unborn children.
I think that when the author is talking about a child yet unborn he is referring to the future generation and how all of our suspisions will effect them. When we make accusations with no evidence and it ends up in fighting and killing we are teaching the next generation of children to do the same thing. And maybe one of the deaths will effect a family. I think that when people are put in a confusing or scary situation they began to imagine things and those things lead to another and eventually we are killing each other.
I agree with JC because I think that one of the poems themes is don't make assumptions, go out and find the truth yourself, even if nobody will agree with you. that is kinda like when JC "shot" Jacob S. because JC did not know who he was, he just assumed that Jacob was a monster.
Forgot to comment on Geneva's... I think that peoples' response to fear is accusations because they do not want the pressure on them, so they accuse other (possibly innocent) people.
I read the defenition of fallout at the end of the play. It means Leftover nuculear particles that fall out of the sky after a meteor shower or something like that.
I completly agree with delaney, trent, jacob k, jacob s, ect... on the fact that the "unborn children" our our future. I also agree on the fact that ourselves can be our greatest weapon, but it can also be our greatest alli (SP). When u get an adreniline rush, some kids can lift cars of parents. now thats something.
Also, our emotions can be a kind of drug in a way, or a disease. It spreads, like if someone in a group is afraid, most liely other will become afraid. That's why this story is so realistic.
I also have no clue what fallout means tho.........
I think the most powerful threat in this story is fear. A couple of power outages and a little kid blabbing weird superstitions and BAM everyone starts accusing each other and Charlie even shot Pete. They never saw any monsters! The fear will cause accusations and fights until the town tears itself apart.
I agree with quintin, just because it souds like a a hidden meaning, there isn't one. The aliens are trying to destroy earth phsyocolagically, ruining the the chance to continuing the race.
The twilight zone is an old TV show.
although man's tools have caused much pain and, in a way, brought half of arguement about. Perhaps man was best off not picking up stick, going "ugh," smashing stick against other stick and yelping as shiney new thing bites him. In short, maybe man shouldn't have discovered fire.
maybe we were gods messup.for those of you who don't believe in god.sorry.
i think sterling means even though literal/physical weapons can kill a person easily, thoughts and opinions can do just the same thing, only not so physically. they murder someone on the inside and can damage their ego.
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