Response to “All the Troubles of the World”

I thought that the story, “All the Troubles of the World” was very well written and intriguing. What got me really interested was the idea that people lived under a dictatorship government who was not even human. The fact that this computer can store so much data on everyone and outwit humans was a little frightening. To imagine Multivac was capable of recording such a large data base to foresee your possible actions gave me shivers. This computer was so well informed that it would have fallen under the act of invasion of privacy in present time. In contrast, today’s consensus usually questions in general categories that are private information, but not too personal. This story was definitely a great way to have a glimpse of a parallel world.

In my opinion, when I read this story, the very first thought that came to mind was the news article of China wanting to be able to read the Gmail of civilians. What made me relate this news article was that Multivac was to know everything, even if there was to be any criminal intentions or the destruction of Multivac itself. Meanwhile, in the news article, the purpose of the Chinese government accessing others’ Gmail accounts was to read if there were any plots or criticism against the government. Though there may be some similar cases of Multivac to modern government, I think it will be very hard to find anything as drastic.

In this story, I think that the protagonist is Multivac because there is more to sympathize for him as he was created by man to deal with troubles of everyone in the world. Although he may not be a living machine, Multivac developed the feelings and emotions that are displayed in people. With Multivac being the protagonist, mankind should be the antagonist as they were the ones who created it and exclaimed their troubles to it. 

Charlotte's Poem

There was more to her than meets the eye

People mocked her of the very things I loved about her

Her crooked smile spreading a wave of rippling lines across her face

Deep trenches of knowledge and memories edged along her forehead

Always wearing the dark red lipstick which shined like ripened cherries

Her eyes were wide, full of joy and eagerness

Even a sense of craziness

For there was so much to learn about her

She was like abstract art

With many opinions and thoughts about her

There were those who took a first glance and thought they knew it all

Claiming it’s either too wild or unrealistic

As it seem that enthusiasm, was not idealistic

And there were people like myself

Who looked at you from every aspect and knew there was more

More to learn

More to see

More to picture

But most important of all,

More to appreciate 

From, 

Charlotte 

Ms. Strangeworth's Letter

July 22, 1952

Miss Adela Strangeworth

Pleasant Street

Strangeworth Town, USA

To the residents of Strangeworth Town,

As we all know, I have been a resident of this town for all my life, not leaving this town a single time. My grandfather has built this town a century ago, and throughout the generations, my family have always been active members of this community. With that being said, the house passed on from my ancestors has also been one of the many significant sights of this town. Acknowledging this, I make sure to maintain it for the greater good of the town. I, myself, am a law abiding citizen who only wants to help my friends and neighbours. 

Today, I have been woken by a rude awakening of a green note left on my door step. In the note, there was written, “Look out at what used to be your roses.” To my dismay, my precious rose garden has been destroyed, trampled and ruined. It was an awful sight as it was also part of the possessions passed on from my family. It was a great shock and I’m in attempts to restore my garden.

I have written letters of the evil I have seen to everyone in this town. I did this in order to protect us from one another and to protect us all in general. However, when it seems like I’m trying to protect everyone, no one seems to appreciate my effort and even gets to the points of wrecking my family property. Instead, people are also becoming worried and paranoid of one another. That is not my intentions though. My intentions are to give out precautions and insights. I’m very disappointed in everyone, and hope that whoever has done this will think of their actions well and thoroughly.

Sincerely,

Adela Strangeworth

My Earliest Memory

White drifts slowly making their decent to the ground

The sky, dark as night and cloudy

A vast grass field, covered by a think blanket of snow

As dull orange lamp lights patterned the side walks

I ran along, laughing, smiling, and spinning

Dizzied and dazed, I sprawled on the wet ground

Listening, listening to the chatter of people

The cold wind brushing my frost bitten face

The constant sniffle of my redden nose

The crunch of my dad’s footsteps before me

I looked at him

A warm smile spreads across both our face

And then, there was silence

I got back on my feel and gazed up

He smiled and gestured at his watch

I knew what he meant, and he had sensed the disappointment

He wrapped his arms around me

It was time to go home

A place of warmth and family

A place where I would rest my head

To revisit the snowy place in my dreams