As literature evolved into a consortium of people and their ideas there has always been efforts to restrict the expression of these ideas to avoid confrontation. Copernicus, one of the most influential astronomers of the 15th century reflected these restrictions when he refused to publish his ideas that the earth was not the center of the universe. He feared retribution from the Roman Catholic Church for his ideas violated the religious doctrine of that time. In essence, science fiction has enabled writers to escape this entrapment of their ideas and expression by the utilization of icons. Icons have been well implemented in science fiction as an attempt to voice these opinions, allowing the author to side step criticism through this form of displacement. Isaac Asimov's "Robbie" utilizes several of these icons to explore aspects of society that undergo this act of displacement.
One icon that Asimov utilizes in "Robbie" is the image of the common housewife of the early part of the 20th century which is idealized through Mrs. Weston. The reader is presented with a warm, touching relationship that exists between Robbie (the robot) and the Weston's daughter Gloria. The two are inseparable, they play together, Robbie gives rides to Gloria while Gloria in return recites stories for Robbie's amusement. The gripping bond that exists between the two only serves to emphasize the villainous role that Mrs. Weston portrays in her attempts to drive them apart. Here Asimov is reflecting his views of the common housewife by contrasting the love and adoration two friends posess with the manipulative, controlling actions that attempt to separate them.
Mrs. Weston is also shown to be unsubstantiated when she explains that "[She] won't have [her] daughter entrusted to a machine A child just isn't made to be guarded by a thing of metal"(578) while her husband points out that "[Robbie's] been with Gloria two years now and [he has not] seen [her] worry till now.
Esperanza's Displacement The character of Esperanza had to live through a transfer of cultures, and she found it hard to adjust. This was her childhood of displacement. Displacement is a word for being out of place, or being thrown out of place. ... In her opinion, she was following in the footsteps of her mother. ...
With negation, though, by expressing opinions or feelings to others, they are convincing themself and confirming these opinions or feelings that they may have. ... Displacement: With displacement, an individual will cut off certain cicumstances, or ideas or items that originally aroused these emotions. ... An example of displacement would be that one might want a steak, but since a steak is not available, one might settle for a hamburger after shifting. ...
Some of the effects of the Revolution were obviously a new independent nation, breaking colonial rule, displacement of American Indians, the need for military, and the Articles of Confederation. ... Along with independence came the need for expansion which meant the displacement of the American Indians. ... The American Revolution was, in my opinion, by far the most difficult time within America's history. ...
Some defense mechanisms I am guilty of committing are denial, reaction formation, displacement, and Rationalization. ... I brought back a top that, in my opinion, looked absolutely perfect with the skirt she wanted. ... Another defense mechanisms I was able to identify through my own experiences is displacement. A person using displacement will substitute the object of tension with one that is acceptable in society. ...
People have had many different opinions about Freud and his ideas. ... Yet the worst opinion about Freud is from scientists and researchers in other areas of psychology, who think of Freud as a fraud. ... Repression, displacement, and denials are a few defense mechanisms a person can experience. ... Displacement is where a person vents his/her anger towards a substitute figure. ... I would have to agree with today's psychologists on this one, but you as the reader can form your own opinion of the famous Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis....
Social Unjust Cause and Effect Paragraph How can the color of someone's skin, rely on who they are and how they should be treated? The color of blood is the color of life, and red is the color that everyone shares, no matter what ethnicity they belong to. Martin Luther King states, "An unjust law...
The trial marked the displacement of religious faith and rural values by scientific skepticism and cosmologist as the dominant strain in American thoughts. The trial soon evolved to a showdown between traditionalists and evolutionists, which showed the split in the public opinion. ...
Other significant impacts such as land disturbance and population displacement together with their economic and social implications are less emphasized. ... The primary reasons for the shift in opinion stem from concerns for the environment and interest in enhancing national energy self-sufficiency. ...
By letting those in power know, "the world is watching," (p. 154). it has been found that the risk of violence and displacement is substantially reduced. ... In Guatemala, a village was at risk of displacement and violence, because of the proximity to a Gold mine owned by a Canadian company. ... When giving my own opinion of this study of foreign missionary work, I find myself on varying sides when it comes to each issue that is discussed. ...
