The Walking Dead (Continued First Season)

As I continue to think about my zombie story, I have finished watching The Walking Dead, analyzing a world where staying together and surviving are the most important things in life. Even as the world is considered over, there are still few who continue to battle everyday against the undead.

            Throughout the whole first season, The Walking Dead continues to see shifts in emotion and hope. There is always something tragic, followed by a ray of hope, back to misery. It’s a vicious cycle. Even when everything seems fine, there still has to be something bad that happens to the survivors as the population of the living continues to decrease. Even when in an apparently safe camp, zombies raid one night and take several members, turning them into undead monsters. When Rick ultimately convinces the rest of the group to leave, it shows a weakness among their trust in each other, which is an important concept throughout the show. Rick does a lot to save the group, but they continue to just look at his decision to go back to the city and take most of the men with him. They’re starting to lose trust, but ultimately decide to go with him to the CDC building (a giant scientific lab believed to be protected by the military so they can find a cure for the zombie infection).

            There again is a shift as they go from the tragedy at the camp, to finding “heaven” at the CDC building. When they are greeted by Dr. Jenner, he shows them around the safe haven. The kids enjoy the play room, while the adults enjoy hot showers and good food, along with plenty of alcohol. Everything seems perfect, but somehow the writers of The Walking Dead get the viewer to know something bad is going to happen. Whenever something good happens, the viewer knows something even worse is going to strike the group. They viewer is just forced to anticipate what is going to happen, and then still be shocked when it finally occurs. As the group enjoys their only night at the CDC, they find out the next morning about the building’s self-destruct system which will kill all of them in less than a split-second. Jenner tries to explain to them that death is the best option, as he almost tricks Rick into telling him that it’s only a matter of time before they die outside anyways. Eventually they find a way out, as the last episode of season one ends and leaves the viewers questioning what happens next.

            The most important thing to writing such a great zombie story is keeping hope and emotions on a rollercoaster. There are always ups and downs. There’s never anything that kills all of them and ends the story, and there isn’t any happy ending. As survivors fight for their lives, their patience with each other is tested, and they continue to fight the unexpected.

This I Believe

Together, mankind can accomplish greatness when people work together for a common goal. This can only occur because of the individuals who come together to find incredible things about life, and create something amazing. Each individual has a path; something they believe in. On my path, I work to accomplish what I perceive to be a successful life. In order for that goal to be reached, I must be confident, and feel proud about all of the great things in life. Through accomplishing this, I recognize my connection to other people. I understand that people have to come together, and love each other. We have to hold the important people in our lives close to us.

            The summer before Senior year was a difficult one. My dad had finally taken care of his own personal problems, when the rest of his family was having trouble. His father was sent to a VA in Brockton due to his now inability to walk without falling. He was lonely, and my dad enjoyed going to visit him every now and then to check on him and brighten his day. At the same time, my uncle was having trouble with alcohol and depression. He had been living this way off and on his whole life, but things were getting worse now. My dad tried to work with him and get him to see the good things in life. The last few months my dad had spent more time with his brother than ever before. He enjoyed seeing him and getting to talk about life with him. He had never known his brother more than at this time in life. My father was focusing on seeing the good things in life, and trying to help my uncle recognize them. I believe in this way of thinking. Being able to look on the bright side, and being thankful for everything I’ve been blessed with. It was something my uncle had trouble doing. Over the summer he passed away, and I was worried for my family. I didn’t know how my dad would react in the long run, and I was especially worried for my grandparents. My uncle was a great man; he just kind of drifted away toward the end. I remember the good times we had when I was younger. I remember the happiness I still believe in. We would watch wrestling with his son and my brothers, and he would take us to his restaurant when it was closed, and cook us hamburgers while we watched sports. He was always thinking of other people. My Uncle Arthur was also my godfather, and after he passed I really started to remember the good times. He always brought back an autograph for us from someone famous, and he remembered birthdays until the end. My grandmother was devastated, and never found help for herself. My father and the rest of our family did what they could to help, but it’s out of our hands now. She can’t get better until she accepts the help and tries to get better. I pray she can find the help she needs.

            I believe in the importance of connecting with other people, and keeping friends and family close to us. Alone, we can’t do much. I would just be a very confused teenager without my parents, the rest of my family, and my friends. Who knows who I would be. Without them, I wouldn’t have an identity. They’ve been there for me while I grow as a person, and continue to strive for success. There have been bumps in the road, but none of them throw me off the trail because the people closest to me are there to steer me back on track. When alone, we don’t know our own identity. But together, we can accomplish greatness.

The Walking Dead Analysis

It’s a classic tale. A police officer wakes up to find that everyone is dead and trying to eat each other, and he quickly find help from another man and his son. This is The Walking Dead. Rick is a police officer who isn’t quite sure what happens when he wakes up. He’s been shot, and been in the hospital for quite some time. As he ventures through the silent halls, he discover dead bodies, and undead lunatics attempting to bust through a chained door with a warning “Don’t Open, Dead Inside.” The intensity builds up as he searches for an escape. There isn’t any action going, but his sudden realization that there are zombies and that he is alone leaves the viewer to await whatever happens next. He eventually find his way outside, only to find thousands of corpses in body bags in the parking lot for the hospital. This is the next step, realizing it’s the apocalypse.

            It all hits Rick hard. He stumbles out of the parking lot, and ventures through a field scattered with trees. Everything’s quiet, and the viewer can feel for Rick and his pain. This is what The Walking Dead looks to accomplish. It pulls the viewer in, and makes them feel an attachment to Rick and his shock that he is all alone. As he travels through the field, he meets his first zombie face to face. He is on the ground, helpless, but scary nonetheless. He quickly peddles away on a bike, and stops to just take in the moment and slow down. There’s a ray of hope for Rick, which can help the viewer feel better. However, at the same time, everyone has to fear the worst as he sees what appears to be a normal human walking the streets. He’s hit by a shovel, as a man (Morgan) and his son (Duane) try to get information out of him and find out if he has been bitten. This is a common feeling when watching The Walking Dead. They work to give the viewer hope that Rick will get out of everything okay, but at the same time, create an atmosphere of intensity, and the feeling that something bad will happen.

            The entire emotion of the story changes. Rick goes from being alone, to now finding a couple of strangers that he doesn’t know what to expect from. The Walking Dead creates constant changes in emotion and the atmosphere. In order to keep the viewer interested, they have to switch between fear, sadness, hope, and other important feelings. Just when you think everything will be okay, something terrible happens that pushes the characters to just sit down and cry. After however, they work to create a ray of hope for the characters, such as when Morgan and Duane find Rick. It doesn’t make things too much better. Sure, they help each other out and of course, find a stash of weapons at a police station, something that any zombie story would do. However, they part ways after learning each others story. Everybody has a background, something bad that has happened to them. The stories pull the viewer in, and make them care about all of the characters, especially in moments like when Morgan attempts to shoot his ‘zombified’ wife. It's the classic zombie story, having different individuals with different sad stories coming together to survive.

            Rick thinks it’s a good idea to venture into the city, but from what we learn from other characters, that isn’t a good idea. They attempt to respond to him on the radio, but can’t get through. Eventually he finds himself surrounded by thousands of hungry zombies who tear apart his horse. All he can do is escape into the tank, just to find a zombie inside. The gun shot he fires dazes him for some time, and makes Rick stop and think, only to hear a voice on the radio specifically talking to him, and asking him if it’s “cozy in there.” This creates the ray of hope.

            Moments like this make The Walking Dead. This is of course only one episode, but it’s the perfect example of how to keep the viewer attached. The emotions constantly shift, and even when hope appears to be lost, there’s someone 

Comments for Week 3

http://worldlitblogyo.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-theif-endless-moral-questions.html?showComment=1316777925148#c4338757098810455378

http://ncarter-morality.blogspot.com/2011/09/morality-through-literature.html?showComment=1316778562306#c8631064774406380930

http://codydaveyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/09/evolution-of-morality.html?showComment=1316778962204#c9162278554791175796

http://sally-girouard.blogspot.com/2011/09/cider-house-rules-characters-moral.html?showComment=1316779491767#c6969481413402927307

Together as a Unit

Throughout literature, different novels tell the stories of different characters. Every character has personal feelings, emotions, and morals much like real-life people. They have certain things that guide them, and act based upon their individual beliefs. In The Maze Runner by James Dashner, the story follows and entire community called The Gladers. While the main character is a boy named Thomas, his individual moral compass doesn’t stand for too much because all of The Gladers tend to stay together and work off of each other. While Thomas is the center of the story, The Gladers have a moral compass that they closely follow. It isn’t about the individual. It’s about all of them working together as a unit.

            The biggest aspect of all of The Gladers moral compass is togetherness. They all have different “ranks” and aren’t at the same level as one another, but they all play an important roll. When Thomas wakes up in the Glade, he doesn’t know anybody there, or even remember anything. Still he must make friends with the kids who make up the Glade, and work together with them to achieve a specific goal. He really can’t just choose to isolate himself, because he needs the others to survive.

            The Gladers and Thomas all have a certain goal. They all must survive. It may not technically be a moral at first glance, but survival is their way of life. They have to do anything to survive. Working together, they must make sure to protect one another and be there for each other when there are obstacles.

            They would never be able to survive in the Glade if they gave up. Thomas and The Gladers must always try their hardest. They experience failures trying to solve the maze while they are stuck in the Glade. However, they always have to keep trying their hardest in order to come up with different plans and strategies. At the beginning of Chapter 38, Newt says, “Closest I’ve come so far to hangin’ it all up. Shuck it all and kiss a Griever goodnight. Supplies cut, bloody gray skies, walls not closing. But we can’t give up, and we all know it. The buggers who sent us here either want us dead or they’re givin’ us a spur. This or that, we gotta work our arses off till we’re dead or not dead” (248). It’s like soldiers fighting together in a war. In war, a country’s military has a specific goal. There are scattered objectives throughout, but there is always one main goal that they work to accomplish before the war can end. They see defeats and death, but they always have to keep working, and continue to come up with better plans to accomplish the task. This is like Thomas and The Gladers. No matter the failures they go through, they have to keep trying, and solve the puzzle which tells them how to finish the maze. 

Believe In Yourself

Everybody has a moral compass, whether they are aware of it or not. Each and every person has something they live by. They take their moral compass into consideration every time there is a decision to make. My moral compass is made up of family/friends, happiness, excitement, and faith. My family and friends are the most important thing to me. They are always there, no matter what situation turns up. Just as important is excitement. Everyday can’t just be the same boring day. I have to be able to find excitement. Throughout life I hope to always experience new things and keep every day exciting.

Everything on my compass helps me to find happiness. With every decision, I need to choose what will make me happy. I need to do what is the right thing for me. Every unhappy day is a day wasted. What brings happiness to me is faith, or having something to believe in. It doesn’t have to be religion; it can be anything that guides you. I’m not necessarily the most religious person, but it helps to have something that I can turn to. I do believe there is a God, but I think there is something that must come first before believing in God. It is most important for me to be happy with myself, and feel good about my life. I have to think positive and be at peace with myself. When that has been accomplished, then I can turn to respecting God. I just have to respect myself first. It may sound selfish, but self-confidence and happiness have to happen first for me before I can be guided by anything else.

            I believe in a crisis, my moral compass could help guide me. I know I have family and friends to support me, and I know I have faith, happiness, and excitement in my life. I believe that while family can be very supportive, having faith and happiness are even more important. As long as I have self-confidence and something to believe in and work toward, no crisis is too big of a match

The Way I Am

Whether thought about or not, every human being has morals. Most believe in morals as the right thing to do. They believe in morals as doing something good and helpful. However, it doesn’t always have to be inside those boundaries. Morals do not exactly have to be something good. Morals are a way that each individual lives life. Everybody lives life differently. How somebody lives shows what their morals are.

            Everybody has a different definition of the word ‘moral.’ Some think that the moral thing to do is be kind to everyone, while others may think it’s all about having self-confidence and believing in yourself. One of the most influential ways of explaining your morals is through music. Many singers, rappers, and other music artists create songs that show their beliefs and morals. Eminem (Marshall Mathers) is one of the most famous and influential music artists in today’s society. He often tells true stories of his life and what he went through growing up within his music. He describes what it was like living in a trailer park and having a mother who cared more about drugs and alcohol than anything else. His story of how he became famous shows his dedication and perseverance and can spread a strong message. In his song “Lose Yourself” he advises that everyone should take every opportunity they get. Eminem describes the failures he went through, but he continued to try again with every opportunity. The most powerful line of the song is right at the end, in which he says, “You can do anything you set your mind to, man.” Eminem’s morals are to always use every opportunity you get, and set your mind to whatever you want to do.

            Everybody lives by different morals. Some might disagree with Marshall Mathers, while others are influenced by his life advice. No two people are the same, and no two people live their life exactly the same. Everybody has individual morals which translate to how they live. James Bond is a fictional character who has a ‘moral license to kill.’ His morals are to take care of the “bad guys” and leave the innocent people alive. There are many pacifists who do not believe it is right to kill anybody. However, James Bond has different morals, and believes it is okay to kill those who have murdered other people.

            We all have our own definition. We all have a different meaning. Everybody is different, and so are morals.