"Under the Dome" 2nd Guiding Question

11/17/2013

Mr. Holder

11/17/2013 07:34:58 am

It has been suggested that King's "Under the Dome" is a subtle and complex microcosm of modern day America. Considering this argument, discuss the role of the character James "Big Jim" Rennie from the novel and how he fits into this metaphorical view. Why do you think Big Jim is so successful in rising from a mere used car salesman to exerting such significant influence over the town of Chester's Mill? What did you think of Big Jim's character and especially of his relationship with and manipulation of his son?

Sarah M.

11/18/2013 03:32:24 am

1) What is a microcosm?
2) Big Jim knows the people of his town, allowing him to manipulate the town to his will.
3) Big Jim's character is... well... a character. He is you typical run of the mill antagonist-manipulative, back-stabber, leader. His son was just another one of his pawns, easily disposable and replaceable.

Mr. Holder

11/18/2013 04:18:05 am

1) If you do not know a word, look it up. As AP students I expect you to be self-driven in your acquisition of knowledge; to "reach" for the learning.
2) Not specific enough. How does he know the people of his town? How does he manipulate them? What is his will?
3) Again, too general. Your answer is not specific enough. How is Big Jim a microcosmic symbol? Why do you think he manipulates his son? He does not manipulate his son for the same reasons he attempts to manipulate the town.

Excellent job in leading the way and being the first to blog!

Mr. Holder

11/18/2013 10:38:06 pm

Sara,

I got to thinking about your post and I was curious, do you think that, in crisis scenarios and in the absence of strong leadership, it is inevitable for people like Big Jim to emerge? If so, why do you think that is? Is there something ingrained in the human condition that makes it so? Does it say something about who we are as a society or as a species? Does it say something about the nature of good or evil? Or maybe there are a limited number or temperament/personality types within the human condition with some ultimately leading to these types of characters? -- These are a lot of questions. I don't expect you to answer them all. I am just thinking out loud. I see a pattern throughout human history of "Big Jims" and I am curious as to where this comes from or what causes this.

Joshua Younger

11/19/2013 10:37:57 am

I agree, in a crisis people always look towards the people who are composed. Like Hitler, or the emperor from Star Wars.

sarah M.

11/20/2013 03:48:34 am

-Mr. Holder,
I do believe that in crisis scenarios it is inevitable for people like Big Jim to rise up. There are people that are just waiting for something to go wrong so that they might gain power. Sometimes it's a mental thing. Some people have a mental need to be fully in charge of absolutely everything, and it drives them to the brink of insanity when they're not. I don't believe that it can shows anything about our society, but, as a species, we tend to want to be the most powerful and controlling of all other life forms. This has nothing to do with good or evil, and anybody can have a mental need to be in control. I'd guess one out of every three people have this mental condition whether they know it or not.

Joshua Younger

11/19/2013 11:10:52 am

1. "Under The Dome" is a microcosm of the United States because Big Jam is part of the board of the town that acts like the U.S. government.

2.Big Jim is so successful in rising from a salesperson to a leader because he was the "everyman" in the community that people could trust.

3. I think that Big Jim's character is of a man who gets caught up in his own work and leaves his son to do what he pleased. After people getting killed, he should have asked where his son was if he thought he was home.

Sarah M.

11/20/2013 03:39:27 am

1)"Under the Dome is definitely a microcosm of modern day America, If America were to go into a dictatorship. Big Jim Rennie would be the dictator, the person who runs forward to claim all power.
2)Big Jim has lived in Chester's Mill for a long time, and he's been in politics for a long time. This give Big Jim the chance to observe how the townspeople react in different situations and how to persuade them to do what he wants in those situations. When the dome came down Big Jim ceased his chance to get what he really wanted-complete control.
3)Big Jim is microcosmic symbol because every microcosm needs a dictator. Big Jim became that dictator the second the town was too weak minded with worry. He manipulates his son because he didn't want his son to become a future problem for him, so by manipulating Junior to his side Big Jim decreased the chances of his son being a major problem in the future. Junior doesn't really care about the town or who is running it, so Big Jim manipulated him for the purpose of contented allies willing to do whatever they're told.

Asia Shields

12/10/2013 08:30:15 am

- Mostly I agree with you,but what do you mean when you say " Big Jim" is a symbol of a microcosm? I would think that Chester's Mill would be a perfect symbol of a microcosm because it really is a microcosm

Anahi Figueroa

11/28/2013 08:37:26 am

Stephen King's novel, "Under the Dome", is seen as a microcosm of modern day America. The character, James, "Big Jim" represents this metaphorical view throughout the novel. In King’s, “Under the dome", Big Jim is characterized as an ambitious, obsessed, corrupted, and manipulated person. Therefore, Big Jim represents a microcosm symbol. Thus, after the dome killed police chief, Duke, Big Jim was the next "leader" of the mill. Because Chester’s mill was separated from society, this developed Big Jim to dominate power. Therefore, Big Jim was successful in rising from a mere used car salesmen. Pursuing this further, Big Jim was fortunate to rise from a used car salesmen because Big Jim managed to manipulate the audience from previous experiences. Furthermore, because Big Jim was a salesman, James managed to use Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle to maneuver the public toward his favor. Moreover, Big Jim manipulates Junior’s behavior throughout the story. Additionally, at the beginning of the novel, Junior characterizes as a psychopath, but because Big Jim influences Junior’s conduct, Junior and Big Jim have an ambivalent, disorganized relationship. In conclusion, Chester’s mill’s, Big Jim has become a microcosm symbol in King's, "Under the Dome".

Claudia Vera

12/4/2013 06:06:46 am

I agree with you in all parts. About the rhetorical triangle I agree with you because he is using his words towards the people , so they can trust him and make him the head leader of Chester Mill.

Claudia Vera

12/4/2013 06:03:59 am

The book "Under The Dome" it is a microcosm of modern day America. I think that Big Jim successfully became the leader of Chester Mill because he was the one that stepped in and wanted to have power over the people. I believe that Big Jim's character is a obsess person that just wants power. Probably because he was just a car salesman. He also overpowers his own son. He told him to be the chief for the town while the Chester Mill is in trouble. Big Jim is also a an ignorant person. He doesn't even know what his son did and lets him do anything.

Asia Shields

12/10/2013 08:27:09 am

- Steven King's "Under the Dome" is most definitely a microcosm of modern day America. I wouldn't say it's a subtle microcosm, but it is kind of a complex microcosm. If America fell under a dictatorship most people would be too weak minded to understand what was happening and would probably just let it happen, and would be to weak to do anything about it when they figure it out.
- James "Big Jim" Rennie is a very well known person in Chester's Mill because he is the town car sales man. If America came under a dictatorship and we had a "Big Jim" among us he would over power us and manipulate us towards his own selfish dictatorship ways.
- I think "Big Jim" was so successful in his rise in power is one because he knew who everybody was. Two because he knows peoples strengths and weaknesses. And three because he knows Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle very well and uses it to manipulate everyone.
- I think "Big Jim" is a very powerful dictator. His relationship with his son is fairly good because he knows his son. I think his manipulation of his son was perfect because his son really doesn't care about the town, little lone who's running it.

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