"Test" Essay "Test" written by Theodore Thomas, is a short story about humanities need for power.

T he power being that to control others ideas, opinions and self identity, through trepidation of di vergence and government control. The short story "Test" is derived from the fear of diversification and self identity. From the moment Robert Proctor wakes up from his hypnosis, the reader sees that t he foundation of the world he is living in is based on control. The act of hypnosis itself, is some one going into your mind and telling you exactly what to do. Symbolism abounds in this short story, one in particular is that of the man in the blue uniform. The uniform symbolizes police and governme nt dominance. After Robert signs the application to receive his license, men in white coats come to take him away for "treatment." The men, symbolizing the government machine that is eating up the pub lic in Roberts world. "Killing people doesn't seem to bother you.", "you sick and need treatment." T homas, here showing the reader that all people have to fit into the mould that is normalcy. The fact that Robert still wanted to drive after the pseudo accident made him "different' and that had to be eradicated immediately. The fear of adversity of thoughts, and feelings is no more greater shown th en when Thomas writes "grooves worn into the floor." Suggesting many others have been in Roberts pla ce, making the point that basically all of society goes when Robert did. All the others left over ar e too scared to drive again, basically making no-one on the road at all. The hypnosis itself refers to another person controlling what you think and do as an individual. In the beginning of the story Thomas describes how Robert felt while driving,"he felt well rested." It is stated that Robert perce ives the girl in the opposing car to look innocent and trusting. However, that just might be how the hypnotist interprets her features, Robert might look at her in a completely different way. Later on we learn that Robert is hypnotised so these feelings are not his own rather someone else's. Someone , perhaps the man in the blue suit, is telling him what to think, and how to feel. Robert in this si tuation is being directly controlled by the government. As if he were a machine, Robert, under hypno sis does exactly what he is told without any argument. It is only later when Robert is awake that he argues and states his opinions. And it is only when Robert is formulating his own thoughts that the men in white coats tell him he needs "treatment." In today's society pop-culture dictates every as pect of life. To the way people look and dress and sometimes how we think. However, "Test" shows us that in the future it is the government that is in control. Throughout the story the main character is always referred to by his full name, Robert Proctor. This suggests that Robert is being watched a nd recorded all the time he is taking his test. Big Brother is always watching him, perhaps the men in white coats are observing him throughout his ordeal watching him like a lab rat. The man telling Robert what to do during his test is wearing a blue uniform symbolizing police and government contro l. In the short story "Test", the government is like a Dictatorship in the way that is completely el iminates human diversity. The government uses scare tactics to prove its point, mush like East Berli n, Communist Russia, and modern-day Afghanistan. Theodore Thomas's short story "Test" is saying to t he reader with precise literary elements, top-flight symbolism and complex issues that human diversi ty should be celebrated. Diversity is what makes this world an interesting and amazing place to live . Without people of different races, religions, and backgrounds life would be dull and boring. All p eople have varied ideas and opinions, and if anyone were to take that away from us we would all end up like Robert, slowly transformed into machines. test essay test written theodore thomas short st ory about humanities need power power being that control others ideas opinions self identity through trepidation divergence government control short story test derived from fear diversification self i dentity from moment robert proctor wakes from hypnosis reader sees that foundation world living base d control hypnosis itself someone going into your mind telling exactly what symbolism abounds this s hort story particular that blue uniform uniform symbolizes police government dominance after robert signs application receive license white coats come take away treatment symbolizing government machin e eating public roberts world killing people doesn seem bother sick need treatment thomas here showi ng reader people have into mould normalcy fact robert still wanted drive after pseudo accident made different eradicated immediately fear adversity thoughts feelings more greater shown then when thoma s writes grooves worn into floor suggesting many others have been roberts place making point basical ly society goes when others left over scared drive again basically making road hypnosis itself refer s another person controlling what think individual beginning describes felt while driving felt well rested stated perceives girl opposing look innocent trusting however just might hypnotist interprets features might look completely different later learn hypnotised these feelings rather someone else someone perhaps blue suit telling what think feel this situation being directly controlled were mach ine under does exactly told without argument only later when awake argues states opinions only formu lating thoughts white coats tell needs treatment today society culture dictates every aspect life pe ople look dress sometimes think however shows future throughout main character always referred full name proctor this suggests being watched recorded time taking brother always watching perhaps white coats observing throughout ordeal watching like telling during wearing blue uniform symbolizing poli ce like dictatorship completely eliminates human diversity uses scare tactics prove point mush like east berlin communist russia modern afghanistan theodore saying reader with precise literary element s flight symbolism complex issues human diversity should celebrated diversity makes world interestin g amazing place live without different races religions backgrounds life would dull boring have varie d ideas opinions anyone were take away would slowly transformed machinesEssay, essays, termpaper, te rm paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers