AUTHORITY
-Jadeite-
a
I honestly don’t know if it is a blessing or a curse.
Who are the Authority? They are the most respected people in the world. They hold control over us. They are correct, always correct. We have no ability to say no. No authority to oppose the Authority. No say. Their opinion is bigger than yours. More important than yours. They are everywhere, they are respected. However, I don’t ever remember seeing them. There’s never a figure. Just the name Authority. Sounds quite impressive. The Authority. Imagine being able to control others and change their choices. And to be revered. They’re been in power since, since forever? As long as we could remember anyway.
Then again, I might not be sure. In more insidious ways than we consciously realize, or me, fully anyway.
Any way.
I hopped onto my umbrella and went out. I cruise out.
I see the white and am reminded of my neighbour’s house’s old colours. It used to be a bright lovely orange colour. It reflected her personality very well – someone who is joyful, enthusiastic and creative. She is an artist, and loves crafting homemade origami. How dreadful it was to hear her cry and scream in protest, yet they did not heed her. They ignored her and continued repainting it swiftly with white. Are they trying to stifle her self expression, or impose ideas onto her?
I got lucky. They have not dictated that I change my building’s exterior colour. It’s a lovely shade of lavender purple. A soothing and gentle colour. I really hope they don’t ask me to repaint it to something else. I hate that thought.
How dare anyone tries to change my taste and preference. Then again, it’s the Authority. Their word is law. They are revered. I am nothing but a small fry.
Ah. It’s getting to me again. I leaned slightly to the right of my umbrella and ran my arm through the water. I shut the world out, letting my sense of touch dominate me. It was as if I could feel every droplet rush past my hand. The coolness of it calms me and brings me back to the present. I’m going to meet Yat. Thinking of meeting him is making me a little excited. My heart starts to race in my chest again. There’s something about him that makes me enjoy spending time with him…
Inspiration
1984 Book
Dystopian novel by English author George Orwell published in 1949, set in a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public manipulation. The tyranny is ostensibly overseen by Big Brother, the Party leader who enjoys an intense cult of personality, but who may not even exist. The Party “seeks power entirely for its own sake. It is not interested in the good of others; it is interested solely in power.” (Wikipedia)
This is reflected in this chapter’s idea of – The people have not even seen the authority before, even though it has a vast influence over the world.
5 Monkeys And A Ladder Psychology Experiment
(disclaimer: it is a made up experiment but what I’m referencing is the herd behaviour this experiment talks about)
Whereby people just accept the rule as it is and do not question it, for out of fear at first then out of normality. – As seen in my story of the Authority being able to control the colours of the buildings, basically stifling the people’s ability to express themselves (since it was established in “Home” that buildings were super colourful in this world as people use it to express themselves(outwards projection) as they have no facial expressions. Also in a way, a policed manner of revolting against oppression?