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April 18, 2006
The Diamond Age 3
This was actually very hard for me to put down towards the end because the more Nell learned, the more she became her own person and watching the learning process makes me look at my own life. It reminded me of how I am making mistakes and learning from them throughout this semester. I'm learning the importance of being prepared and how to set priorities. This book really reminded me of what we studied in Foster. You may go on a quest looking for one thing, (in Nell's case it was at first about freedom) and end up getting something completely different. Nell learned who she was, what she could accomplish. and how to problem-solve. Miranda had become a part of her life. I think Miranda learned alot to. She seemed sort of apathetic about her life until she realized the value of it by seeing the struggles that Nell was going through just to survive. Everyone must go through roadblocks in learning and this is what captivated me so much about Nell. She was such an individual because she wasn't just settling into a random tribe, but rather learning who she really was first. The theme of individuality stuck with me much more than technology. It was the wonderful technology that was dispensed thanks to Hackworth, Finkle-McGraw, and Dr. Fang. I have to say it taught me to appreciate technology a little more because in the past, present, and future it will save us from many trials.
Posted by ErinWaite at April 18, 2006 08:50 PM
Comments
Yes, I think you've hit on an important educational theme of the novel. You might look also at Miss Matheson's dying words to Nell, and Finkle-McGraw's ongoing quest to figure out how to pass on his values to the next generation, when it was precisely his interactions with others who DIDN'T share his values that made him see why those values were the right ones for him to hold.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at April 19, 2006 11:36 AM