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The Good Life, Parasite: Kim family sees the Parks as living a desirable…

- - - - The Dispossessed Shevek's mentor takes credit for his scientific findings in Abbennay, despite Anarres having communal values. His mentor holds power over him for his own personal gain.
    - - The Dispossessed explores the role of freedom and free will - see: Shevek's journey criticizing both societies. Shevek is not "set free" until he feels free to criticize both societies. His theory is a representation of this. "Do you not understand that I want to give this to you—and to Hain and the other worlds—and to the countries of Urras? But to you all! So that one of you cannot use it, as A-Io wants to do, to get power over the others, to get richer or to win more wars. So that you cannot use the truth for your private profit, but only for the common good"
      - Antigone compares collective values versus individual liberties. Antigone believes that it is her right to bury her dead brother in the burial tradition that she is accustomed to, even if he is seen as a traitor to the state.
        Who has the freedom to mourn?
        
        Gender roles
      - Beneatha of A Raisin in the Sun wants to be free to choose her own path - wants to be a doctor, defies gender roles. Wants to live a meaningful life. However, because she is a woman, her worth is placed within her potential to marry. Feels unsatisfied with suitor George because she will not be a "free" woman
        
        Free will
  - - - In Antigone, King Creon is more concerned with upholding values of the state than honoring Antigone's personal beliefs. Antigone is punished for trying to bury her brother, who is seen as a traitor to the state.
        
        Individual vs the State
      - The Dispossessed
        
        Anti-utopias allow us to critically evaluate the pros/cons of both societal values
        
        In Urras, individual liberties come first and foremost, which also inform the actions of the state. This means that in Urras, people are not valued the same way. There is a hierarchy of value - there is inequality, racism, etc. Example: Cetian race vs others. When people prioritize themselves they pin groups against one another.
        
        Capitalism
        
        Imperialism
        
        Anarres is an anarchist society that is decentralized and governed by principles of community. That is to say, there is no central "government". Stifled innovation, loss of individual connection (eg family) in favor of community
        
        Anarchism/communism
    - - "The American Dream"
      - The Reluctant Fundamentalist: Changez flip flops between protecting the interests of the United States and staying true to his Pakistani identity
        
        Underwood Samson = metaphor for United States. Values the job highly even though it is at his own expense (Janissary; no identity/sense of self)
        
        Changez' decision to grow a beard: shows physical alignment with Pakistani values
- - - - Jamaica forced to adopt western/capitalist economic systems/reforms, and also take on an (exploitative) production role for the West
        
        Government corruption = result of power vacuum post-colonialism. IMF help/continued western presence because of economic interests continues to entrench country
        
        Similar to: Antigua in A Small Place
        
        artificial society. the west can benefit from Jamaican products, culture, and tourism, but Jamaica is developing and is stunted from the creation of their own national identity (+ national stability)
    - - eg Erica (American Dream is unattainable)
      - eg Erica's father's comments to Changez about how Pakistanis are too concerned with fundamentalism + how Pakistan has terrible infrastructure/is a political "mess"
      - After 9/11, Changez seen as a threat because of his identity. Loses right to "the good life" (as if he had one to begin with)
        
        Pakistan in conflict with US; US militarily intervenes in Afghanistan and threatens Pakistan. Also alludes to conflict with India/Pakistan
      - eg Changez searched at TSA
    - - eg. Mill Reef Club. Wealthy white people can spend a lot of money to live in the Mill Reef Club to golf/vacation/etc, but this luxurious resort excludes native Antiguans (black people)
- - - - Is Walter's white American fantasy of owning a business and acquiring wealth (white American fantasy because these opportunities/dreams were often at the expense of Black people) radical or regressive?
  - - - Also related to: civil disobedience vs. conformity
        
        Similar to: The Dispossessed
- - - - Desire
  - - - Another connection to desire/fulfillment: Emma's unfulfilling affairs were thought to bring her happiness, but were also unsustainable relationships built on appearances, gestures, and desire.