Legend Reading Response By Demitrius Hilerio
Politics can be very perplexing at times,
especially when people are trying to determine what political actions are right
or wrong. Political actions cause lots of controversy because sometimes certain
things that different governments do are hidden from the public. This is a
perfect example of what happens in the book Legend by Marie Lu. The
book is told through two point of views. An impressive criminal named
Day that commits plenty of crimes that have involved stealing to
destroying government property just to survive through a life of poverty.
The book is also told through the eyes of a girl named June. June is actually
rich and an officer for the government as well as the government’s prodigy. The
name of this government is called the Republic. As the book goes on many
revelations are told about the Republic. The Republic is portrayed as a
government and nation that has many unfair laws and policies. The Republic
doesn't mind solving their nation's problems through unfair and sometimes even
violent ways.
One main thing that the Republic does
in the book is treating people differently depending on their financial and
social status. For example there is one part in the book where Day went inside
a hospital and soldier that was the guarding the hospital was about to shoot
Day because he is poor: "The soldier looks at me in disgust while some of
the others snicker. I see his finger creep closer to the gun's trigger, but one
of the soldiers shakes his head." A little bit later the soldier threatens
to actually shoot Day. " 'Wipe some of that filth off your face. And if
you touch me again, I'll fill you with bullets.' " (Page 27). These quotes
illuminate what the people of the Republic (even the soldiers) think about the
“poor” people of the lake sector. After this part the soldier leaves Day alone
and allows him to observe the rest of the hospital and steal medicine from the
hospital as well as kill June's brother.
Another thing that the Republic does
that can be thought of as unfair is killing people to solve specific problems
instead of choosing a different solution that doesn’t contain violence. There
are a few parts in Legend where certain problems cannot be solved
so the Republic resorts to violence and most of the time even killing people.
For example there is one part in the book where Day was surrounded by the Republic's
soldiers, but they can't find him. So one of the captains named Thomas was
ordered to kill Day's mother: " 'We've tried your tactic now lets try
mine.' She turns to the dark-haired captain and nods once. 'Cop her.' I have no
time to stop what happens next. The captain lifts his gun and points it at my
mother. Then he shoots her in the head." (Page 157) This part is a perfect
example of the Republic using violence against a innocent person. This strategy
was in fact affective, but there could've been another way to get Day arrested
besides killing his mother. As a result of Day being arrested there were riots
and the soldiers were given orders to kill all of the rioters: "Bullets
rain down on the square. People in the crowd collapse like levees in a flood.
.... but instead I cover my ears. The gunshots are deafening." (Page
213-214) As a result of the rioting many people were killed and tons of
people were arrested because they were caught rioting.
Lastly the Republic also treats people
differently and sets different standards for people depending on their score on
the trial. The trial is a test that comes in many parts that is taken by
everyone when they turn ten years old. The trial determines your education,
your job and that all affects your financial status as well. In one part of the
book Day explains what happens to people's lives depending on different scores:
"You score between a 1450 and a 1499. Pat yourself on the back because
you'll get instant access to six years of high school and then four at the top
universities in the Republic: Drake, Stanford, and Brenan. Then Congress hires
you and you make lots of money. Joy and happiness follow. At least according to
the Republic. .... You squeak by with a score between 1000 and 1249. Congress
bars you from high school. You join the poor, like my family. You'll probably
either drown while working the water turbines or get steamed to death in the
power plants." (Page 7) There is also a part where Day explains what
happened when he failed his Trial: " '...the next thing I knew I was in a
hospital basement with a bunch of other corpses. But I wasn't dead.' He laughs
again. It sounds so weak. 'Great birthday.'" (Page 201) These quotes show
how people that live under the Republican government are pushed into a certain
lifestyle because of what their trial score is. In the book the trial plays a
major role because Day failed his trial and that’s what made him rely on his
criminal actions survive. Also displays inequality of the Republican
government.
There are many
parts in this book that display inequality. The Republican government relates
to real life because there are places that have governments that steals, kills
and more just to keep their country organized in some way. The Republic is very
unfair to its people and this of course affects characters and allows them to change.
The Republic's actions are critical to all of the social issues in the
book. Without the Republic’s unfair actions being in the book there would
be a different outcome at the end of the story or the characters wouldn’t be in
the state that they are in the book.
Outline
for Reading Response on Legend by
Marie Lu
Book:
Legend by Marie Lu
Introduction
Thesis
Statement: The Republic doesn't mind solving their nation's problem
through unfair and sometimes even violent ways.
Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence: One main thing that
the Republic does in the book is treating people differently depending on their
financial and social status.
Evidence: "The soldier looks at
me in disgust while some of the others snicker. I see his finger creep closer
to the gun's trigger, but one of the soldiers shakes his head." "
'Wipe some of that filth off your face. And if you touch me again, I'll fill
you with bullets.' " (Page 27).
Body Paragraph #2
Topic Sentence: Another thing that
the Republic does that can be thought of as unfair is killing people to solve
specific problems instead of choosing a different solution that doesn’t contain
violence.
Evidence: " 'We've tried your
tactic now lets try mine.' She turns to the dark-haired captain and nods once.
'Cop her.' I have no time to stop what happens next. The captain lifts his gun
and points it at my mother. Then he shoots her in the head." (Page 157) "Bullets
rain down on the square. People in the crowd collapse like levees in a flood.
.... but instead I cover my ears. The gunshots are deafening." (Page
213-214)
Body Paragraph #3
Topic Sentence: The Republic also
treats people differently and sets different standards for people depending on
their score on the trial.
Evidence: "You score between a
1450 and a 1499. Pat yourself on the back because you'll get instant access to
six years of high school and then four at the top universities in the Republic:
Drake, Stanford, and Brenan. Then Congress hires you and you make lots of
money. Joy and happiness follow. At least according to the Republic. .... You
squeak by with a score between 1000 and 1249. Congress bars you from high
school. You join the poor, like my family. You'll probably either drown while
working the water turbines or get steamed to death in the power plants."
(Page 7) " '...the next thing I knew I was in a hospital basement with a
bunch of other corpses. But I wasn't dead.' He laughs again. It sounds so weak.
'Great birthday.'" (Page 201)
Conclusion
What I want the readers to know about
by the end of the essay: I want the readers to know how the Republic’s actions
affect the outcome and course of the story.
How the thesis statement applies to
real life: The Republican government relates to real life because there are
places that have a government that steals, kills and more just to keep the
people in their country aware of the laws.
