Eggers writes the novel in a way that really forces us to ask this question; does his book target technology as the problem or people themselves? Is technology getting too advanced that privacy is becoming in possible to hold on to? Or is it people’s desire to constantly show off their lives that eliminates privacy. The employees of The Circle seem to think that if you are not doing anything wrong then privacy is not necessary. Also that to eliminate privacy will rid society of embarrassment. They do not see privacy as sacred or important in one’s life. So what it? Too much technology or are people the problem?
Good point. I'll have to admit, reading this novel has made me feel the urge to take a step away from technology and disconnect from social media. I think in a way, Eggers is trying to "scare" us. What if a company became so technologically advanced that they were able to control almost all aspects of peoples' lives, like The Circle? Eggers is trying to convey that technology is becoming more and more powerful, and people are beginning to get so consumed with it that it is "controlling" us in a sense. In The Circle, individuals' valued opinions are decreased to just "smiles" and "frowns." They become a number- based off of their " participation"of how many things they post online. Technology has the ability to change who we are and how we think. One of the major ideas in the novel is "ALL THAT HAPPENS MUST BE KNOWN." Eggers makes us as readers begin to think: Is this what we really want?
ReplyDeleteTake a 6 year old for example; if you give a 6 year old an iphone and say, "Here you go, have fun!", they're obviously never going to put it down. And in that case, besides the parents giving their 6 year old an iphone, the technology is the problem. The child doesn't know any better than to use it. But if you're 30 years old and you grew up in a time where cell phones didn't exist and you go out and buy all different kinds of new technology and focus all of your time and energy on it, that (to me) is the persons fault. I think that relative to The Circle, i would say it is the people's fault for allowing technology to consume thier loves to the point of Hell that is depicted in the novel.
ReplyDelete