“A conversation on a park bench near Prague Castle”
Dateline Prague: Late December 1991. The Soviet Union has just dissolved, completing a process that began in fall 1989 when the populations of all of Moscow’s eastern European allies rebelled against communist dictatorship and committed themselves to liberal democracy. Miracle of all miracles, the great dissident, Vaclav Havel, is now the president of postcommunist Czechoslovakia.
On a brisk but sunny day, Havel decides he needs a break from all the meetings and receptions at Prague Castle. After walking a couple blocks down the hill, he sits down on a park bench next to a young tourist who is enjoying the beautiful view of the Vltava River and Prague’s historic downtown. It turns out that this young visitor is one of the formerly Soviet students whom you have seen in “Journey to Russia” (1983).
Naturally, the one-time student (now 8 years older) is thrilled to find that he (or she) is talking to a world-famous dissident and politician. He (or she) and Havel immediately begin to reminisce about the breathtaking and previously unforeseeable events of the past half-decade. To Havel’s great surprise, he (or she) admits to having read his essay “The Power of the Powerless” when it first appeared in 1978. Havel beams when he hears these words, and he expresses his gratitude. But then, in what Havel will later regard as an infelicitous remark, he adds: “It is a shame that you and your classmates took so long to see the error in your ways. You chose to live within a lie. You should have chosen instead to live within the truth!” At first the Russian tourist is stupefied, but then incredulity leads to indignation. “Hold on there!” the former student retorts, “You may be president of a great country, but that doesn’t mean you know everything about how we thought and felt in 1983. Back then, when my classmates and I read your essay–and we read it carefully–we had perfectly good reasons for supporting our government voluntarily, with both our hearts and our minds. Don’t talk down to us about living in the truth. We had our own, perfectly truthful reasons for thinking and acting as we did.”
Which of these two figures will be able to make the most persuasive argument in favor of their position, Havel or the Russian visitor?
Assignment: Please write a 3-4 page (no more), double-spaced essay in which you take a firm stand in support of one side over the other.
Havel’s essay already provides you with ample evidence to address one side of this debate. “Journey to Russia” provides you with several examples of individuals who would likely argue against him.
Choose one of the following three characters in “Journey to Russia” to play the role of the indignant Russian visitor:
The woman at 6:22 (Let’s call her Anna)
The woman at 22:49 (Svetlana)
The man at 32:00 (Fyodor)
Of course, you don’t know everything you would hope to know about this person. However, this essay prompt will help you to imagine what he or she would think about their life in 1983. Use your imagination to bring this person to life. Dare to be creative!
As you know, the film is on our Course Reserve site.
Important: In characterizing the views of your former Soviet citizen, make sure that you are writing about what Havel means by “living within the truth” in the deepest sense of the concept. This prompt is not about the mundane issue of whether someone believes something that is factually incorrect. Rather, this question is about Havel’s conception of what it means to live an authentic and responsible life. This question is also about whether this former Soviet citizen would have even wanted to live up to Havel’s high standard.
We will evaluate your essay according to four criteria:
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- Your understanding of the dispute between Havel and his critic.
- Your explicit identification of the argument and the counterargument. Should you happen to side with Havel, make sure you give his critic equal time to make the case against him. Should you side with the former Soviet student, give Havel equal time as well. Once you have identified the two sides, you should then justify your choice of one position over the other.
- Your direct use of your readings to back up your points concretely.
- And, importantly, your demonstrated ability to think for yourself.
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As always, I have advice.
Read this assignment closely the moment you receive it. It may seem complicated at first. But if you allow its elements to percolate through your brain, you will find that they all flow together. Write an introductory paragraph as soon as you can. Then, use it to write a first draft of the essay. The act of writing this exercise will teach you what you do or do not know. Then reflect on your draft and rewrite it. Soon, your entire argument will flow together smoothly.
Do not put this assignment off until the last moment. If you do so, you will not be a happy camper, and neither will we.
Seek the advice and counsel of your TA. In addition, I will read and comment on your intro paragraph and the first sentence of your second paragraph if you send it to me at least two days before it is due. Of course, I will be happy to discuss your paragraph and/or the entire assignment during my office hours.
I can’t say it enough: Visit the Writing Center. It is always valuable to have an outsider’s perspective. In the words of a great German revolutionary, you have “nothing to lose and a world to gain!” FYI: The Writing Center always sends me a note about students who take the time to pay a visit. I react positively to the news and share it with the TAs.
I am taking account of your busy schedules and posting this second essay assignment earlier than I usually do. Please turn in your essay to your TA no later than Friday, November 10 at 5:00 pm.
Good luck!
AJM