Although the entirety of Saturday happens in one day, Perowne experiences various things that lead him to have great faith in the power of science and the many things it can resolve. As neurosurgeon, Perowne sees everything logically and solves all of his problems by means of mathematical, proven answers. With this mindset, the tragedies and problems he faces through one day, he feels can be solved easily through science, like a systematic neurosurgery. However, as he comes to realize science can only go so far. Science may be able to prove why a plane exploded or a man’s illness, but science can not prove why two lovers are fighting in the square at dawn or the lost connection between a father and his daughter. And when the power and effect of science ends, humanities step in.
The earlier part of his day starts by Perowne waking up suddenly in the wee hours of the morning. He is starring out of his window and observing the silent streets, when he sees what he thought was a projection from space, but then realized he was witnessing a plane crash. For the early part of the morning, he could not get the incident out of his mind. He had no control over the status of the passengers, nor did he have any knowledge of why the plan crashed. He resorted to the news that eased his mind with the announcement that the plane was a carrier plane that exploded due to mechanical difficulties. This problem that he could not solve was eventually solved by science. Science proved why the plane crashed, which proved to Perowne that science can solve everything. Even later when he has to do brain surgery on Baxter, he knows and is assured that the power of science will heal his brain injury. However, Perowne is confronted with other obstacles that he can not find the answer to overcome, because he thinks with science on a pedestal.
Later Perowne prepares himself for a game of “squash” and a casual visit with his mother. He looks out the window of his bedroom and sees a couple arguing in the square. The young man is trying to embrace the young women but she wants nothing to do with him. In this instance, when two lovers have a deeply entwined passion for each other, science can not prove why they are arguing. Humanities, the interaction of humans, the conversations of the two lovers, s what will heal their broken string connecting each other. And when Perowne later embraces his daughter, she is upset and can not find the moment to tell her father why she is so upset. When she is finally forced to undress and her physical body signs reveal to her family that she is pregnant, Perowne now knows what’s been bothering her. Sure science can prove how someone got pregnant, but it can not explain the lost connection between the entire family and the treachery of Daisy having to tell her parents she is baring a child.
I agree with Perowne’s faith in science to some extent. Science can solve our logical problems and the mechanical things that can be proven. However, I believe the rest is up to humanities. Interaction of humans- feelings, values, and morals- is the other link to how our world functions. Where science can no longer provide answers, humanities step in. This proves true in not only Perowne’s life, but ours as well.
Worde Count: 579
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment