The essay is shaped around the primary source—the novel The Dispossessed—and explores its
theme of the state against the people. It needs to address and compare the governments provided
in the book and Guatemala’s political climate.
Write the essay based on the topic given and the sources provided in the annotated bibliography document. However, feel free to swap some sources and and new sources (related to the topic).
*Add more recent studies of Guatemalan politics in the political climate today.
Give examples from the primary source and cite them!
Follow the Professor’s notes on the annotated bib:
I really like the move to study forms of governance like capitalism, communism, military dictatorships, etc., as the novel itself has examples of several of these various forms of government. I think it’s fair to claim, as you do, that none of these forms of governance seem particularly well-suited in The Dispossessed to meet the needs of their people. The notion of the tension between the governed and the governors is an important part of your paper. Let’s keep developing the focus, though. I see sources on Guatemala and Venezuela, which could work well, but I would consider limiting the scope to one or both of these countries. You want to keep the scope manageable. Also, as you continue to work, keep trying to narrow down the focus on the claim concerning the novel: ultimately, what does Le Guin want to show us about corruption and freedom? I especially like the fact that you’ll study the politics of your home country. Working on research that is meaningful to us is an important part of scholarship.
