Keshav.

sarswat
Q. how has the contest of each of the composers affected their representation of their
respective world?
Cormac McCarthys novel The Road and John Fords film The Grapes of Wrath both are heavily
influenced by their context, the 9/11 attacks on America and the Great Depression,
respectively. The context plays a vital role in developing the concerns, of survival and
resilience and loss of humanity, the two composers have for the world. The values, of
empathy, sense of community, equality and family and its role in shaping good citizens, are all
greatly influenced by each composers context.
Cormac McCarthys novel The Road, was composed in 2006 and reflects ideas and values
which were heavily influenced by his context. McCarthy presents the idea of survival and
resilience which is effectively portrayed through the two protagonists struggle through the
harsh environment. The idea is effectively developed through the use of a simile, they went
on in the perfect blackness, sightless as the blind. This shows how the two protagonists are
involuntarily walking the beach, in search of food, shelter and the good people they believe
in. They have no idea whether their destination will be better but think what could be worse
than the present situation. T The idea is developed through the use of a metaphor, were not
survivors. Were the walking death in the horror film. Here the memory of the mans wife
reflects their dire situation, so dire that they do not feel as though theyre surviving. By
referring to themselves as the walking dead, the reader is positioned to feel that the world
around them has had a detrimental toll on their morality and sprits. Furthermore, the idea
developed effectively through the use of dialogue between the two protagonists. How long do
you think people can go without food? I dont know? But how long do you think? Maybe a few
days. The child is aware that if they do not find food soon they will die. The child is
questioning his fathers survival skills as he is worried about their safety and longevity. The
reader is made to believe the child is losing trust in his father as he says he does not believe
his every word. This was due to the hopelessness of surviving the cruel and harsh
environment in the little food supply they had. McCarthy uses this idea to reflect the postSeptember 11 feeling of helplessness and a lack of confidence people had in one another.
Due to the American security being compromised, people did not feel save in their own
country. The period was enclosed by the fear and discrimination associated with the attacks.
McCarthy uses the idea survival and resilience to express his values of: empathy, harmony
and family and it role in developing good citizens he wants the world to possess.
Cormac McCarthy presents his context via the idea of loss of humanity. The idea is developed
through the way the two protagonists interact with other individuals and the environment. The
idea is developed through the use of symbolism. And were carrying the fire. symbolizes the
small flame of decency and civilization that has otherwise been wiped off of the face of the
earth. the fire they carry inside thema fire that represents hope, humanity, the will to
stand against insurmountable odds without abandoning the most basic principles of morality
and resorting to malicious means to survive. And though the man may at times forget his own
teachings, the boy always remembers. McCarthy presents his concerns through the idea of
loss of humanity through the use of dialogue. "You're not the one who has to worry about
everything. The boy said something but he couldnt understand him. What? He said. He looked
up, his wet and grimy face. Yes I am, he said. I am the one. The man occasionally thinks of
his son as a godly product. Even his mission to protect the boy and to ensure his survival is
carried out with religious fervor. Furthermore, the idea developed effectively through the use
of a dialogue, sooner or later they will capture us and kill us. Here the wife is telling the man
the harsh reality of the post-apocalyptic world. She would rather die with some dignity rather
than being cannibalised by the bad guys who have gone this path of destruction just for their
wellbeing. McCarthy uses this ides to reflect the post-September 11 feeling of a lack of
confidence people had in each other and distrust in the government for being fearful and,

Keshav.sarswat
therefore, changing the way society lived form day to day. The political persuasion shifted
dramatically to the right and governments were reinforcing stricter laws to assimilate the
threat of terrorism. McCarthy uses the idea loss of humanity to express his values of equity
and acceptance and a society which values its citizens rather than ostracise them.
John fords film The Grapes of Wrath, was composed in 1940, and reflects ideas and values
which were heavily influenced by his context. Ford presents his concerns through the idea of
survival and resilience. This is effectively portrayed through the techniques low camera angle
and repetition in the scene when Tom meets Casey and Casey says there aint no sin and
there aint no virtues, theres just stuff people does. Here Casey says people no longer
differentiate between good or bad but do what is required for their own survival. No matter
what the consequences it may have on other. Furthermore, the idea is developed through a
wide shot of the makeshift composition of the transit camp followed by a point of view shot of
Tom, Ma and sister Joad. Here the protagonists are faced with harsh realities of California
which they refused to believe. Even in this depressed place the family is resilient to keep
going and stay strong as a whole family. Furthermore, the idea is developed through the use of
medium eye-level shot and symbolism, at the Keene camp there are a many families walking
to the orchard to collect fruit. Every person is carrying a bucket even the children and the
elderly as this increases their income gives them a better chance of survival. Furthermore, the
idea is developed through the use of a wide shot and irony, at the Keene camp when ma Joad
is in the cabin, which is dirty and run-down. Here Ma Joad is glad and sees it as a positive for
the family even though the place is so bad. She sees it as a positive as the family have been
in worse situations. Ford uses this idea to show the mistreatment of the families who were
helpless due to the events. America had fallen into the Great Depression. Many Dust Bowl
farmers were forced to leave their land. Without any real employment prospects, thousands of
families nonetheless traveled to California in hopes of finding new means of survival but with
high labour and little work the corporates took advantage of the desperation of the families,
and made them work in harsh environments and with minimal pay. Ford uses the idea to
reflect the values of equality between the fortunate and the less fortunate, empathy and
family and it role in developing good citizens.
John fords film The Grapes of Wrath, was composed in 1940, and reflects ideas and values
which were heavily influenced by his context. John Ford presents his attitude towards his
context via the idea of loss of humanity. The idea is effectively developed through the uses of
flashback, low-camera angle and symbolism. Muley explains to Tom how he powerless to stop
the banks form destroying his house and taking his land which he very symbolically touches to
signify the value of the land to Muley and his family is more than just a paper or money which
is what the bank is after. The corporates have no regards for what effect this action has on the
families. Furthermore, the idea is developed through the use of contrast and an aggressive
tone. The waitress reaction to Pa Joads plea for a loaf of bread for his sick mother is tough
and non-caring. Here the condescending waitress says she is not running a charity and cannot
provide the bread as this would make her worse off even though she has a stable job as in
contrast to the uncertain journey ahead for the Joads. Furthermore, the idea is developed the
use of a full shot and symbolism. The corporates are trying to start a riot so they can shut
down the government camp. The authorities and the perpetrators symbolise the destruction
of a community trying to help itself. The common good of the collectives overcome this
destruction which peace and prosperity. Ford uses this idea to show the mistreatment of the
families who were helpless due to the events, the dust bowl and the great depression. The
farmers and their families were forced of their farms and with little choose went to California,
where they were right were abused due to their desperate circumstance. Ford uses the idea
to reflect the values of equality between the fortunate and the less fortunate, empathy and
family and it role in developing good citizens.

Keshav.sarswat
Cormac McCarthys novel The Road and John Fords film The Grapes of Wrath both are heavily
influenced by their context, the 9/11 attacks on America and the Great Depression
respectively. The context plays a vital role in the representation of each composers respective
world, which helps in developing the concerns, of survival and resilience and loss of humanity,
the two composers have for the world. The values, of empathy, sense of community, equality
and family and its role in shaping good citizens, are all greatly influenced by each composers
context.
(How well am I addressing the question?)