Blacksuits
"Blacksuits" are the guards of the Furnace. They are merciless creatures that have extreme strength and agility. When a prisoner is taken by the Wheezers (defined below), the prisoner is mutated into a Blacksuit. Alex has a quarrel with the Blacksuits, especially one he named "Moleface", for killing his best friend and framing him of murder. "In the shadows behind the office door, right in front of me, was an enormous figure. A man whose black suit blended perfectly with the walls, but whose two glinting eyes and vast, sinister grin shone out of the darkness like those of a shark in the cold, dead water of the ocean."
Wheezers/Gasmasks
"Wheezers" or "Gasmasks"are tall, shuddering figures. They are dressed in dirty overcoats with a belt running over their shoulder and down around their waist. These belts contain dirty, rusted syringes. Covering their face, is a World War 2 like gas mask. When a Blood Watch is called, these Wheezers go to a cell and mark it with an 'X' with what seems to be crude oil. After this, one of the cell mates are taken and injected with one of the dirty rusted syringes. This injection turns the prisoner into a Blacksuit.
Hard Labour
"Hard Labour" is a daily job in the Furnace. The only jobs mentioned in the book are: "greaseup", "slopwork", "chipping" and "bleaching".
Greaseup means cleaning duties such as cleaning cells or toilets.
Slopwork means making food, but it can't be called cooking because the food is so bad.
Chipping is mining. Usually this means making new rooms in the Furnace. Donavan says that "it took three years to mine out the room for the showers."
Bleaching is doing laundry for the Furnace inmates.
The Furnace Penitentiary
"The Furnace Penitentiary" is a maximum security prison for young offenders. Prisoners remain here for life. When Alex Sawyer is framed for a murder he did not commit, he is sent to the Furnace for life.
Skulls
One of the gangs in the Furnace from the Summer of Slaughter. They wear bandana's with skulls painted on them. Their leader is Kevin Arnold whose relentless and merciless rule has the inmates of the Furnace exhausted and scared. One day, when Gary Owens, a psychopathic killer, takes control of the Skulls, life gets a lot harder in the Furnace.
Monday, 9 April 2012
Part 4
Journal: Alex Sawyer
Only the first night, I'm here holding the bars of my cell. I look around, all is quiet, but I know every soul is crying, sobbing, they all want one thing, freedom. People find themselves in situations all the time where they wish they could go back and change something in their lives, but reality prevents us. For now, for life, I am stuck in this cell. It was one small, petty action that set me on my path to eternal damnation. I was younger, years younger. Foolish, selfish and ignorant to the fact that my actions would have consequences. I took a kid's money, hardly worth calling me a criminal. It was my actions after that caused me this mess. It might have been the stress at home or peer pressure that motivated me, but whatever it was, it screwed up my life big time.
I miss the comforts of home. My bed, my soft clothes and my parents. Some people say the simplest things in life make you happy. What happens if those very simple pleasures are taken away? I am terrified for what happens tomorrow and forever. I'll never survive, but why would I need to survive? I'm never getting out of here. Stuck here forever. I'm too young to die. But what kind of life is this? It's only the first day and I can't take it. I'm so scared. Terrified of the things I've seen so far. These strange men appeared and killed my best friend, Toby. They have framed me for something I haven't done. Why would they do that to me? Now here I am, in the Furnace, forever. I'm INNOCENT, YOUR HEAR! INNOCENT!
I wonder what time it is? Oh no, I hear something. What are they saying? They're yelling at me, the other prisoners. They're yelling, others are singing. They are making fun of me. I don't want to listen, but it's so loud. I want to go HOMEEEEEEE! I join in the 'symphony' crying, screaming, yelling. I think I finally will pass out.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Alex Sawyer
In this journal, I am trying to reflect how Alex might feel after his first day at the Furnace. I chose to write this journal entry about Alex because he is the main character in the novel. I chose this time in his life because I thought it would be very emotional. I think Alex is vital to the novel because he is the main character.
To write this journal entry I put myself in Alex's shoes. I imagined what it would be like to be in a cell at the Furnace. I imagined what I would miss the most, my bed, my clothes, my parents, my dog and maybe even my sister. It was easy to relate to the character because Alex and I are about the same age.
Journal: Carl "Donavan"
Months ago, well what seems like months, my cellmate died. He was foolish, reckless, and one day, he lost it, he jumped. Only days ago I got a new cellmate, some kid named Alex Sawyer. Days ago I would have asked questions like "why did I have to get stuck with the new guy." But now thanks to him, there is a glimmer of hope, a chance of escape. Brilliant Alex, he came up with an idea so simple, it would make escape almost easy. What will I do when I get out? I guess the options will be limited, the entire police force will be searching for us.
The only thing I wonder about is if the guards already know what we are doing. What if they spotted us and are waiting to throw us in the hole or worse. Ultimately it doesn't matter what happens, we will die in here if we don't leave and chances are we will ultimately die if we escape. I guess I shouldn't think that way. This escape is our only hope for survival. Even if I die, I will have died on the outside not in this hellhole. I will be away from the black suits, the wheezers, the Skulls, the horrible warden. I have to do anything I can to get out of here!
On the bright side, having Alex as my cellmate has been ok, not just for his escape plan, but as somebody to talk to. He has kept me updated on what's going on on the surface. Alex says there have been some cool new video games that have come out like the Elder Scrolls VIII!
Reflection - Journal Entry for Carl Donavan
At the beginning of the book, Donavan is taken as a hard unforgiving character. He is merciless and evidently does not develop attachments to people. When Alex comes down into the Furnace, it changes Donavan. Donavan starts to act kindly towards Alex, like a friend. To write my Journal entry, I used this feeling of a change of heart, to make this journal entry.
I chose Donavan as a character to write my journal on because he is one of the major, important character's in the novel. The time this entry is written is just after Alex thinks of a way to escape. I created my entry using factual information provided about Donavan in the novel.
Journal: Toby
Life has been great ever since Alex and I started these heists. He is always telling me how he spends his share of the money. It's been a wild ride. Alex is my best friend and always will be, but I'm starting to get worried. What if we're caught? They always talk about that Furnace place on TV, but Alex says thats only for kids who commit murder though. I don't want to tell Alex, but I think my parents are becoming suspicious of what we are doing. When I come home late at night, they always ask me questions that I can't answer. My parents always taught me as a kid that stealing was wrong. They aren't the type of parents that would let me get away with anything.
I can't think like that though! Everything will be fine. At most, Alex and I will receive a harsh scolding. I'm going to have to tell Alex that I want to stop.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Toby
Toby appears only at the beginning of the novel as Alex's best friend. Toby is killed and Alex is framed for his murder and is sent to the Furnace. I chose to write a journal entry about Toby because even though he only appears at the beginning of the story, it is his and Alex's actions that cause the chain of events in the story.
Although Toby is a minor character, his role has a great impact on the book. I thought it was important to reflect on how Toby felt and what he might be thinking. Just as I was sympathetic to Alex in the book, I was also sympathetic to Toby. He should have never have died.
Journal: Montgomery "Monty" Earl
What did I ever do wrong to anybody? What is one to do when they get framed for murder and have no way of defending themselves? My sister, one of the only people I ever cared about, killed by men in black suits. They left her for dead, and the police blame ME! Getting sent to the Furnace is bad enough, then I get a murderer as my cell mate. Every day he pushes me around and uses me as his servant. I don't dare rise against him, he would just kill me. For the rest of my life, I see no hope, no future. Why did it have to be me? I feel so trapped and helpless. A few days back, I was sitting alone eating my food, then the Skulls come over and start pushing me around, nothing that I'm not used to. All of a sudden this kid named Alex comes over and pushes the Skulls off of me. I was quite grateful but I've learned in the Furnace, it's better to be with the superior crowd than being a "new fish".
Tonight I did something that I probably shouldn't have done, I hope they don't catch me. I made the best meal I could out of the worst quality ingredients that were there. I had to do something to repay Alex, he risked his life for me to survive. I owed him.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Monty
I chose Monty for this journal entry because of all the horrors down in the Furnace, he tried to make something good out of it. The reason I wrote about this specific time in his life is because this small gesture had great value in the novel. It was a symbolic gesture, in all the darkness there is a light.
Monty is a minor character in the novel, although he does not play a vital role in the novel, his actions are important. When Alex saves Monty, it develops Alex's character and shows that Alex is a good person.
Only the first night, I'm here holding the bars of my cell. I look around, all is quiet, but I know every soul is crying, sobbing, they all want one thing, freedom. People find themselves in situations all the time where they wish they could go back and change something in their lives, but reality prevents us. For now, for life, I am stuck in this cell. It was one small, petty action that set me on my path to eternal damnation. I was younger, years younger. Foolish, selfish and ignorant to the fact that my actions would have consequences. I took a kid's money, hardly worth calling me a criminal. It was my actions after that caused me this mess. It might have been the stress at home or peer pressure that motivated me, but whatever it was, it screwed up my life big time.
I miss the comforts of home. My bed, my soft clothes and my parents. Some people say the simplest things in life make you happy. What happens if those very simple pleasures are taken away? I am terrified for what happens tomorrow and forever. I'll never survive, but why would I need to survive? I'm never getting out of here. Stuck here forever. I'm too young to die. But what kind of life is this? It's only the first day and I can't take it. I'm so scared. Terrified of the things I've seen so far. These strange men appeared and killed my best friend, Toby. They have framed me for something I haven't done. Why would they do that to me? Now here I am, in the Furnace, forever. I'm INNOCENT, YOUR HEAR! INNOCENT!
I wonder what time it is? Oh no, I hear something. What are they saying? They're yelling at me, the other prisoners. They're yelling, others are singing. They are making fun of me. I don't want to listen, but it's so loud. I want to go HOMEEEEEEE! I join in the 'symphony' crying, screaming, yelling. I think I finally will pass out.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Alex Sawyer
In this journal, I am trying to reflect how Alex might feel after his first day at the Furnace. I chose to write this journal entry about Alex because he is the main character in the novel. I chose this time in his life because I thought it would be very emotional. I think Alex is vital to the novel because he is the main character.
To write this journal entry I put myself in Alex's shoes. I imagined what it would be like to be in a cell at the Furnace. I imagined what I would miss the most, my bed, my clothes, my parents, my dog and maybe even my sister. It was easy to relate to the character because Alex and I are about the same age.
Journal: Carl "Donavan"
Months ago, well what seems like months, my cellmate died. He was foolish, reckless, and one day, he lost it, he jumped. Only days ago I got a new cellmate, some kid named Alex Sawyer. Days ago I would have asked questions like "why did I have to get stuck with the new guy." But now thanks to him, there is a glimmer of hope, a chance of escape. Brilliant Alex, he came up with an idea so simple, it would make escape almost easy. What will I do when I get out? I guess the options will be limited, the entire police force will be searching for us.
The only thing I wonder about is if the guards already know what we are doing. What if they spotted us and are waiting to throw us in the hole or worse. Ultimately it doesn't matter what happens, we will die in here if we don't leave and chances are we will ultimately die if we escape. I guess I shouldn't think that way. This escape is our only hope for survival. Even if I die, I will have died on the outside not in this hellhole. I will be away from the black suits, the wheezers, the Skulls, the horrible warden. I have to do anything I can to get out of here!
On the bright side, having Alex as my cellmate has been ok, not just for his escape plan, but as somebody to talk to. He has kept me updated on what's going on on the surface. Alex says there have been some cool new video games that have come out like the Elder Scrolls VIII!
Reflection - Journal Entry for Carl Donavan
At the beginning of the book, Donavan is taken as a hard unforgiving character. He is merciless and evidently does not develop attachments to people. When Alex comes down into the Furnace, it changes Donavan. Donavan starts to act kindly towards Alex, like a friend. To write my Journal entry, I used this feeling of a change of heart, to make this journal entry.
I chose Donavan as a character to write my journal on because he is one of the major, important character's in the novel. The time this entry is written is just after Alex thinks of a way to escape. I created my entry using factual information provided about Donavan in the novel.
Journal: Toby
Life has been great ever since Alex and I started these heists. He is always telling me how he spends his share of the money. It's been a wild ride. Alex is my best friend and always will be, but I'm starting to get worried. What if we're caught? They always talk about that Furnace place on TV, but Alex says thats only for kids who commit murder though. I don't want to tell Alex, but I think my parents are becoming suspicious of what we are doing. When I come home late at night, they always ask me questions that I can't answer. My parents always taught me as a kid that stealing was wrong. They aren't the type of parents that would let me get away with anything.
I can't think like that though! Everything will be fine. At most, Alex and I will receive a harsh scolding. I'm going to have to tell Alex that I want to stop.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Toby
Toby appears only at the beginning of the novel as Alex's best friend. Toby is killed and Alex is framed for his murder and is sent to the Furnace. I chose to write a journal entry about Toby because even though he only appears at the beginning of the story, it is his and Alex's actions that cause the chain of events in the story.
Although Toby is a minor character, his role has a great impact on the book. I thought it was important to reflect on how Toby felt and what he might be thinking. Just as I was sympathetic to Alex in the book, I was also sympathetic to Toby. He should have never have died.
Journal: Montgomery "Monty" Earl
What did I ever do wrong to anybody? What is one to do when they get framed for murder and have no way of defending themselves? My sister, one of the only people I ever cared about, killed by men in black suits. They left her for dead, and the police blame ME! Getting sent to the Furnace is bad enough, then I get a murderer as my cell mate. Every day he pushes me around and uses me as his servant. I don't dare rise against him, he would just kill me. For the rest of my life, I see no hope, no future. Why did it have to be me? I feel so trapped and helpless. A few days back, I was sitting alone eating my food, then the Skulls come over and start pushing me around, nothing that I'm not used to. All of a sudden this kid named Alex comes over and pushes the Skulls off of me. I was quite grateful but I've learned in the Furnace, it's better to be with the superior crowd than being a "new fish".
Tonight I did something that I probably shouldn't have done, I hope they don't catch me. I made the best meal I could out of the worst quality ingredients that were there. I had to do something to repay Alex, he risked his life for me to survive. I owed him.
Reflection - Journal Entry for Monty
I chose Monty for this journal entry because of all the horrors down in the Furnace, he tried to make something good out of it. The reason I wrote about this specific time in his life is because this small gesture had great value in the novel. It was a symbolic gesture, in all the darkness there is a light.
Monty is a minor character in the novel, although he does not play a vital role in the novel, his actions are important. When Alex saves Monty, it develops Alex's character and shows that Alex is a good person.
Part 4: Quotes
Quotations from Lockdown
"Beneath heaven is hell. Beneath hell is Furnace."
The above quotation is on the title page of the book and gives an initial impression of what the book is about. It sets the tone for the book as a whole.
When the reader compares Heaven to Hell, they would see a huge difference. The author is trying to impress that the Furnace is much worse than Hell. Readers understand what Hell is and by comparing Hell to Furnace, the reader gets an understanding as to how awful the Furnace is. The Bible describes Hell, and it doesn't sound as bad as the Furnace.
“I can tell you the exact moment that my life went to hell."
These are the opening words for the book and they provide a significant amount of insight of the things to come. The words set the stage for the first part of the book. The words indicate that something significant is about to happen and help create a tone that brings suspense and terror to the reader.
Using a quotation like this is helpful in setting up the tone and foreshadowing events. When I am trying to be dramatic in my own life and about to tell a story, I will have an opening line similar to this so that people can feel what I am about to say. Even in the news, news reporters will use those words "the exact moment" something happened to set-up the story.
“This place is full of unwritten rules.”
When Alex arrives at the Furnace he needs to learn the rules. There are written or stated rules and then there are the 'unwritten rules'. Just like when I arrived in Grade 6 at John G. Althouse, there were the written rules to abide by and then there were the unwritten ones, like don't mess with the grade 8'ers or you can sit at this lunch table but not at that one. Alex learns these unwritten rules for the Furnace, like don't mess with the Skulls and what their territory is.
This quote describes Alex's first few days in the Furnace and is important to the novel because Alex needs to learn how to get by in the Furnace. Just like any prisoner entering jail, there is always unwritten rules, like pecking orders to deal with.
"If they catch you, just don't forget your name."
Alex gets caught by Moleface as he is trying to escape with the other inmates. Unbelievably, a Blacksuit pulls Moleface off Alex so that Alex can make his escape. The Blacksuit says to Alex, "If they catch you, just don't forget your name." Alex realizes that the Blacksuit is Monty. Apparently when you turn into a Blacksuit, if you can remember your name you manage to retain some of your memories or character of who you were.
Throughout the book, the reader is hopeful that somehow Alex will escape from the horrors of the Furnace. This quote provides this hope, as does Monty's actions. Monty's actions of pulling Moleface off Alex gives hope to Alex that he will actually escape the Furnace. The quote also provides hope that if Alex does get caught, he can somehow retain some identity.
Part 3: Newspaper Article
First Newspaper Article
Convicted: Alex Sawyer
By: Gregory Decyk
Another youth sent to the Furnace Penitentiary. Alex Sawyer, 14, was convicted today of murdering Toby, his good friend. Alex and Toby were burglarizing a house and although the exact details are sketchy, Alex killed Toby. Alex claims he is innocent, that he was framed. Alex faces life in prison at the Furnace. The trial started yesterday and concluded today. It took the jury only 40 minutes of deliberations to decide Alex's fate: GUILTY!
Is this the correct route for dealing with crime in youth? Alex has had a short trial. He was found guilty and is to be sent to the Furnace with no chance of parole. Ever since the Summer of Slaughter, society has over reacted and has taken measures and steps, that in this journalist's view, are "over the top". Is it in fact that the children have failed society or has society failed children? Are these children such monsters that they should be locked away for life? Children are like clay, you have to work them and mold them to become good citizens.
Guilty or not, Alex Sawyer is going to the Furnace. Is society now a better place without him?
Reflection
I chose to write this article to highlight the social injustice around the treatment of children in Lockdown. I think the author's choice of locking children away for life because of their crimes against society is harsh and ineffective. It is clear from the novel that the children are smart and clever. For instance, Alex's escape plan. Specifically his plan to fill the gloves with a substance that will explode and create a hole in the rock. Alex and his comrades are intelligent people. Putting that intellect to a positive use is better than using it for negative purposes. Now in Canada, we rehabilitate children so they can have a brighter future.
The article I wrote questions the author's messages on social injustices. The author wrote the article as an exaggeration to get his points across regarding children. He took it to the extreme with putting the children away for life. I think he wanted the reader to think about what do you do with children when they commit such crimes? My article looks at some of those questions.
Second Newspaper Article
"What lies ahead for Omar Khadr?", CBC News - link to article http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2008/07/16/f-khadr-legal-options.html
Reflection
The story around Omar Khadar is a current example of social injustices surrounding children. Omar Khadar, a Canadian citizen, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed an American soldier in Afghanistan at the age of 15. Omar was captured and put in prison at Guantanamo Bay. The injustice is how they treated him while he waits for the governments to decide his fate.
I thought Omar Khadar's situation is comparable to Alex's situation at the Furnace. Omar has been captured and put in an adult prison which technically, is even an illegal prison. Alex at least has got the benefit of a trial, where as Omar has been in prison for years and has not had a trial yet. International politics are making his situation even more difficult. His treatment in prison and tactics used on him, including sleep deprivation, to confess to his crime are unacceptable for a child. The situation is similar to how Alex was questioned for three weeks and was becoming so confused. Omar's situation confirms my belief that children, like Alex in Lockdown, should not be treated in such a horrendous manner.
Convicted: Alex Sawyer
By: Gregory Decyk
Another youth sent to the Furnace Penitentiary. Alex Sawyer, 14, was convicted today of murdering Toby, his good friend. Alex and Toby were burglarizing a house and although the exact details are sketchy, Alex killed Toby. Alex claims he is innocent, that he was framed. Alex faces life in prison at the Furnace. The trial started yesterday and concluded today. It took the jury only 40 minutes of deliberations to decide Alex's fate: GUILTY!
Is this the correct route for dealing with crime in youth? Alex has had a short trial. He was found guilty and is to be sent to the Furnace with no chance of parole. Ever since the Summer of Slaughter, society has over reacted and has taken measures and steps, that in this journalist's view, are "over the top". Is it in fact that the children have failed society or has society failed children? Are these children such monsters that they should be locked away for life? Children are like clay, you have to work them and mold them to become good citizens.
Guilty or not, Alex Sawyer is going to the Furnace. Is society now a better place without him?
Reflection
I chose to write this article to highlight the social injustice around the treatment of children in Lockdown. I think the author's choice of locking children away for life because of their crimes against society is harsh and ineffective. It is clear from the novel that the children are smart and clever. For instance, Alex's escape plan. Specifically his plan to fill the gloves with a substance that will explode and create a hole in the rock. Alex and his comrades are intelligent people. Putting that intellect to a positive use is better than using it for negative purposes. Now in Canada, we rehabilitate children so they can have a brighter future.
The article I wrote questions the author's messages on social injustices. The author wrote the article as an exaggeration to get his points across regarding children. He took it to the extreme with putting the children away for life. I think he wanted the reader to think about what do you do with children when they commit such crimes? My article looks at some of those questions.
Second Newspaper Article
"What lies ahead for Omar Khadr?", CBC News - link to article http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2008/07/16/f-khadr-legal-options.html
Reflection
The story around Omar Khadar is a current example of social injustices surrounding children. Omar Khadar, a Canadian citizen, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed an American soldier in Afghanistan at the age of 15. Omar was captured and put in prison at Guantanamo Bay. The injustice is how they treated him while he waits for the governments to decide his fate.
I thought Omar Khadar's situation is comparable to Alex's situation at the Furnace. Omar has been captured and put in an adult prison which technically, is even an illegal prison. Alex at least has got the benefit of a trial, where as Omar has been in prison for years and has not had a trial yet. International politics are making his situation even more difficult. His treatment in prison and tactics used on him, including sleep deprivation, to confess to his crime are unacceptable for a child. The situation is similar to how Alex was questioned for three weeks and was becoming so confused. Omar's situation confirms my belief that children, like Alex in Lockdown, should not be treated in such a horrendous manner.
Part 3: Pictures
I thought this picture was a great visualization to the reader as they are starting the book. A picture can sometimes provide more intense emotion. You almost wish you could get off at Hell. This picture provides suspense as to how could anything be worse than Hell?
An image like this cell helps give visual emotion for the reader. A greater connection can be made to Alex and how he is feeling. The picture helps the reader build a picture in his head of a cell in the Furnace and how horrible it is.
This is my interpretation of what a "Hell Hound", as described in the novel, might look like. At the beginning of the book, the reader reads about Alex running for his life in vivid detail. The reader can only imagine what mysterious, dangerous creature Alex is running from. The book describes these Hell Hounds as "massive jaws", "dripping great globs of saliva", "muscles and tendons flexing", "huge feet", "mutant dog", "silver eyes" and "fetid breath".
I chose to illustrate a Hell Hound because when I was reading the book I had a clear vision of what it would look like. That vision added suspense and more intense emotion for me when I read about Alex's encounter with these beasts. I also felt like I was in Alex's shoes trying to escape. A picture speaks a thousand words.
I created this picture of light at the end of a tunnel to represent Alex's escape at the end of the book. "Fueled by fear we took less than a minute to find the crack in the rock….We walked to the edge of the drop and peered down….I leaned over the edge and let the cold air embrace me."
I chose to illustrate this scene because I was so excited that Alex was going to make it! The picture helps the reader see the light at the end and that Alex might actually escape the horrors of the Furnace. This picture helps the reader feel what Alex is feeling when in the book he says, "There was nothing but death behind me, and probably nothing but death ahead, but at least this way I would be free. And smiling at the thought, I jumped." The picture helps capture the idea that freedom lies ahead and only death behind him.
I chose to illustrate this scene because I was so excited that Alex was going to make it! The picture helps the reader see the light at the end and that Alex might actually escape the horrors of the Furnace. This picture helps the reader feel what Alex is feeling when in the book he says, "There was nothing but death behind me, and probably nothing but death ahead, but at least this way I would be free. And smiling at the thought, I jumped." The picture helps capture the idea that freedom lies ahead and only death behind him.
Image 1 - Original image by Fez, http://teh-ebil-spaz.deviantart.com edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 2 - Original image by Author Unknown, edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 3 - Original image by HaltomHooper, http://s727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/HaltomHooper/?action=view¤t=HELLHOUND.jpg&, edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 4 - Original image by Author Unknown, edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 2 - Original image by Author Unknown, edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 3 - Original image by HaltomHooper, http://s727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/HaltomHooper/?action=view¤t=HELLHOUND.jpg&, edited by Gregory Decyk
Image 4 - Original image by Author Unknown, edited by Gregory Decyk
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Part Two
"Lockdown" has a very vivid dystopian society. Society has lost patience with teen violence and decided to take a direct approach. Teens convicted of a crime, justly or unjustly, are sent to the Furnace Penitentiary for life. There, children live out a life of fear as they are faced with the horrors of the Furnace. Children in their teen years are constantly in fear of the potential threat of being put in the Furnace. All the kids who are imprisoned in the Furnace live in constant fear of death which is a normal thing for those who have lived in the Furnace long enough.
Lockdown focuses on the social injustice surrounding the treatment of children, in particular those children that are innocent. The author is trying to make the reader aware that even though children mess up, they are still growing and developing, and that hiding problems is not how to fix them. With proper attention and care, children can grow into responsible adults. Even though Alex did commit his share of crimes, he was still treated unjustly. The author's use of the harsh conditions of the Furnace do not match the crimes of any human being. It is these conditions that make us sympathetic to Alex and his inmates in the Furnace with him.
The social injustices described in Lockdown are deliberately exaggerated to seem much worse than the experiences of the typical reader. There certainly are injustices all over the world, and even today, children suffer everything, from simple poverty to child slavery. There are a number of ways that the Furnace in Lockdown was unjust. Children who commit crimes suffer consequences that are less severe than what an adult would face, and are generally given a chance to get a fresh start when they grow up. This was not the case in Lockdown. In juvenile detention centres, and even in adult prisons, people are are not kept for life the way they were in Lockdown. Also, prisoners can get a chance for early release if they are well behaved, where there was no such chance in Lockdown, so the prisoners had no hope and no reason to behave. Prisoners are given a chance to get an education and learn skills so that when they get out, they can find a way to make a living in society. In Lockdown, the prisoners were being thrown away forever, and told "the outside world, you are already dead", which is unjust because we believe that everyone can learn from their mistakes if given a second chance. In Lockdown, even though Alex was guilty of a crime, he did not deserve his punishment, and did not get a fair trial. Having a fair trial is an important part of social justice. Each of these injustices can happen in our world if we don't pay attention to our legal rights.
In the dystopian society the author created, the Furnace was designed to solve a specific problem and make people safe. Not only did this not fix the problem, it made it worse. Locking people up and throwing away the key is not the answer to crime. I think the author effectively delivers this message because this novel tackles a real world issue.
Lockdown focuses on the social injustice surrounding the treatment of children, in particular those children that are innocent. The author is trying to make the reader aware that even though children mess up, they are still growing and developing, and that hiding problems is not how to fix them. With proper attention and care, children can grow into responsible adults. Even though Alex did commit his share of crimes, he was still treated unjustly. The author's use of the harsh conditions of the Furnace do not match the crimes of any human being. It is these conditions that make us sympathetic to Alex and his inmates in the Furnace with him.
The social injustices described in Lockdown are deliberately exaggerated to seem much worse than the experiences of the typical reader. There certainly are injustices all over the world, and even today, children suffer everything, from simple poverty to child slavery. There are a number of ways that the Furnace in Lockdown was unjust. Children who commit crimes suffer consequences that are less severe than what an adult would face, and are generally given a chance to get a fresh start when they grow up. This was not the case in Lockdown. In juvenile detention centres, and even in adult prisons, people are are not kept for life the way they were in Lockdown. Also, prisoners can get a chance for early release if they are well behaved, where there was no such chance in Lockdown, so the prisoners had no hope and no reason to behave. Prisoners are given a chance to get an education and learn skills so that when they get out, they can find a way to make a living in society. In Lockdown, the prisoners were being thrown away forever, and told "the outside world, you are already dead", which is unjust because we believe that everyone can learn from their mistakes if given a second chance. In Lockdown, even though Alex was guilty of a crime, he did not deserve his punishment, and did not get a fair trial. Having a fair trial is an important part of social justice. Each of these injustices can happen in our world if we don't pay attention to our legal rights.
In the dystopian society the author created, the Furnace was designed to solve a specific problem and make people safe. Not only did this not fix the problem, it made it worse. Locking people up and throwing away the key is not the answer to crime. I think the author effectively delivers this message because this novel tackles a real world issue.
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Part One
"Lockdown": by Alexander
Gordon Smith
Book Review
Are you looking for a horror story or thriller? Well this is the book for you!
Furnace Penitentiary is the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. One of the newest members of the Furnace is Alex Sawyer, who was convicted for a murder that he did not commit and sentenced to the Furnace for life with no parole. Alex and his friend Toby were petty thieves and one night, when they were in the middle of a job, Alex's best friend, Toby, got shot by men in black suits. Alex made a break from the scene of the crime but was eventually caught by the police and was framed for the murder. He was sent to court and was found guilty, repressing in sentence to the Furnace for life.
The book goes through in vivid detail the horrors of the Furnace, from the gruesome monsters, the “gasmasks”, the mysterious men in black and the evil warden. The conditions are so horrific, death is a normal thing in the Furnace.
Alex is a curious character, always asking
questions and constantly excited. Even though Alex is brought down by the
Furnace, he tries his best to make the most of himself. The reader roots for
Alex and his fellow inmates to escape even though Alex and his
inmates have commited their share of crimes. The goal of an
escape is reached, but will they be able to reveal the horrors of the Furnace
to the rest of the world?
Lockdown is an exhilarating read. There are many cliffhangers in the
book which add to the excitement and thrill. I was hoping for an explosive
ending to the book but was disappointed with being left with a cliffhanger.
This book is the first of a three-part series. As disappointed as I am with the
Lockdown's ending, I am already reading Book Two. This book will keep
you wanting for more.
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