In practice for your work on the analysis paper, I showed you several different thesis statements regarding economics and power in Mukherjee's "The Middleman."
Google Doc: Middleman Discussion
* Please notice how we established claims/terms (i.e. first establish that this is an economic system, then claim that Maria is the commodity within that system.)
We had a debate over the question "Does Maria have real power?"
Some arguments for yes:
- Maria is not an actor, she is a director, manipulating the men to act for her
- Maria's relationship with Alfie is an act of power; claiming ownership over herself (and refuting Ransome's ownership over her)
- Maria's relationship with Andreas may have once been based on love, but is now based upon gaining and sharing power
Some arguments for no:
- Ransome uses Maria as a commodity
Example: he "loans" her to Bud (and others) to get what he wants.
- the only active characters in this story are men
- Maria relies upon men to get what she wants
- the pattern of Maria's life is one without power
Example: At the age of fourteen, she is taken by the nation's president, then Ransome, then Bud.
- Maria's power is derived from men
Example: Andreas gives her the gun, Alfie drives her to and form the village, Ransome provides her with her house and the guns
There was no clear winner, which is great. It is possible to write a paper on either claim, so long as your back up your argument.
I gave you time to work on your utopia projects. Please note that presentations (with notes!) are due next week.
