The dystopian younger grownup novel, penned by a particular writer, unfolds in a future United States grappling with the aftermath of devastating wars. The narrative facilities on a younger lady, the protagonist, who’s thrust right into a world of political intrigue and compelled marriage inside a society rigidly structured by a lottery system designed to repopulate the nation.
This particular novel presents themes of oppression, survival, and the wrestle for particular person company towards a backdrop of societal management. It explores the complexities of household loyalty, romantic entanglement, and the ethical compromises demanded by excessive circumstances. Its historic context resides throughout the broader style of dystopian fiction, echoing related narratives of societal collapse and resistance, whereas providing a singular perspective on the roles of girls and political energy.
The following evaluation will delve into the precise plot components, character improvement, thematic issues, and the writer’s narrative methods employed inside this work, highlighting its contributions to the younger grownup dystopian style and its relevance to modern social discourse.
1. Dystopian Society
The dystopian society depicted varieties the core basis upon which the narrative construction and thematic issues of the work are constructed. The societal construction, characterised by governmental management over copy, useful resource shortage, and enforced social stratification, instantly impacts the protagonist’s life and decisions. The obligatory lottery system and compelled marriage preparations are usually not merely plot units; they symbolize the systemic oppression that defines the characters’ existence and motivates their actions. In impact, the dystopian framework serves as each the inciting incident and the persistent battle throughout the narrative. Take into account, as an example, the historic precedent of totalitarian regimes that applied social engineering applications aimed toward inhabitants management or genetic purification. Such historic occurrences inform the fictional dystopia, lending verisimilitude and highlighting the hazards of unchecked governmental energy.
The sensible significance of understanding the dystopian setting lies in its capacity to light up modern social points. By analyzing the fictional penalties of useful resource depletion, environmental degradation, and unchecked political authority, readers can critically consider present-day societal traits. The novel’s exploration of pressured marriages, although introduced inside a fictional context, can stimulate reflection on problems with gender inequality and human rights violations that persist globally. Understanding the mechanisms of management throughout the novel’s dystopian society propaganda, surveillance, and the suppression of dissent also can equip readers with the instruments to acknowledge related manipulative techniques in real-world contexts, doubtlessly fostering a extra knowledgeable and engaged citizenry. The cause-and-effect relationship is clear: societal collapse and authoritarian management result in the systematic dehumanization of people, in the end driving the narrative ahead.
In abstract, the dystopian society capabilities as way over a backdrop; it’s the engine driving the plot, the supply of thematic rigidity, and a car for social commentary. Its understanding is essential to greedy the whole thing of the work, its motivations, and its resonance. The challenges inherent in confronting such a system are mirrored within the protagonist’s journey, prompting readers to think about the moral complexities of resistance and the potential for hope even inside essentially the most oppressive of environments. The portrayal serves as a cautionary story, prompting reflection on societal decisions and their potential dystopian outcomes.
2. Pressured Marriage
In Amy Engel’s “The Ebook of Ivy,” pressured marriage capabilities as a central mechanism of management throughout the restructured society. Publish-war, with dwindling populations, the Republic of Westmoreland enforces organized unions via an annual lottery, dictating the reproductive futures of its residents. This isn’t merely a background element, however a core driver of the narrative, instantly impacting Ivy’s life and shaping her choices. The establishment of pressured marriage serves as a microcosm of the Republic’s broader oppression, reflecting its disregard for particular person autonomy and its discount of human beings to mere devices of inhabitants progress. The systematic pairing of people with out their consent creates an setting of rigidity, mistrust, and resentment, fueling the resistance motion and offering a basis for the protagonist’s private and political awakening.
The sensible significance of understanding pressured marriage throughout the context of the novel lies in its capacity to light up real-world parallels. Whereas the novel presents a fictionalized account, the observe of pressured marriage persists globally, significantly in areas grappling with poverty, battle, and patriarchal social constructions. Examples embrace cases in components of South Asia, the Center East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the place societal norms and financial pressures compel households to rearrange marriages for his or her youngsters, typically with out their consent. The research of those real-world cases highlights the devastating penalties of pressured marriage, together with the denial of schooling, financial alternative, and private success. Furthermore, it will probably result in psychological trauma, social isolation, and elevated vulnerability to violence. Thus, the portrayal of pressured marriage in “The Ebook of Ivy” can act as a springboard for discussions about human rights, gender equality, and the significance of particular person company.
In the end, pressured marriage in “The Ebook of Ivy” will not be merely a plot gadget however an emblem of systemic injustice and a catalyst for insurrection. Its presence highlights the Republic’s oppressive nature and fuels the protagonist’s journey in direction of self-discovery and resistance. Understanding the mechanics and penalties of this pressured establishment throughout the narrative permits for a deeper appreciation of the novel’s thematic issues and its connection to real-world points. The challenges introduced by such a system serve to emphasise the significance of safeguarding particular person liberties and advocating for the rights of those that are weak to coercion and exploitation. The writer makes use of this as a option to discover what can occur when particular person rights are taken away for the perceived larger good of society.
3. Political Intrigue
Political intrigue constitutes a significant element inside “The Ebook of Ivy,” driving the narrative ahead and shaping the protagonist’s trajectory. The post-war Republic of Westmoreland, ostensibly aiming for societal restoration, is rife with energy struggles and hidden agendas. These components of intrigue are usually not mere background particulars; they’re interwoven into the very cloth of the plot. The cause-and-effect relationship is clear: the oppressive societal construction creates a breeding floor for secret alliances, betrayals, and manipulations. These clandestine actions, in flip, instantly affect Ivy’s life, forcing her to navigate a treacherous political panorama the place belief is a scarce commodity. The significance of political intrigue within the novel lies in its capacity to reveal the hypocrisy and corruption underlying the Republic’s seemingly ordered facade.
Take into account, for instance, the facility dynamics between the households of the Westfall and Lattimer clans, two dominant political entities vying for management. This rivalry fuels a lot of the clandestine maneuvering, with every household using manipulative techniques to achieve benefit. Ivy’s pressured marriage to Bishop Lattimer locations her instantly inside this enviornment of political maneuvering, forcing her to turn into each a pawn and a possible participant. The sensible significance of understanding this political intrigue lies in its capacity to reflect real-world political eventualities. The themes of corruption, energy struggles, and the manipulation of data resonate with historic and modern examples of political maneuvering in numerous societies. The novel’s portrayal of those components prompts a essential examination of the moral compromises typically made within the pursuit of political energy, and the implications of such actions on people and society as an entire.
In abstract, political intrigue will not be merely a plot gadget inside “The Ebook of Ivy,” however somewhat a elementary component that exposes the complexities and ethical ambiguities of the Republic of Westmoreland. The challenges confronted by the protagonist in navigating this treacherous panorama spotlight the potential for particular person company inside oppressive methods, whereas concurrently serving as a cautionary story in regards to the risks of unchecked political ambition. The novel encourages a essential examination of political methods, the motivations of these in energy, and the significance of vigilance in safeguarding particular person liberties towards the encroachment of political manipulation.
4. Ivy’s resistance
Ivy’s resistance varieties a cornerstone of the narrative in Amy Engel’s “The Ebook of Ivy.” It serves as a direct response to the oppressive societal constructions established throughout the Republic of Westmoreland, particularly the pressured marriage system and the political manipulation inherent within the Westfall-Lattimer rivalry. Ivy’s preliminary compliance, born from a way of responsibility to her household and a perception in the potential for change from inside, progressively evolves into energetic defiance as she witnesses the Republic’s inherent corruption and the human value of its insurance policies. This transformation, the shift from passive acceptance to energetic resistance, will not be merely a plot component; it’s a central thematic concern, exploring the facility of particular person company within the face of systemic oppression. Her actions perform as a catalyst, sparking a series of occasions that problem the established order and encourage others to query the established order. The shortage of her resistance may flip this right into a easy narrative about dystopia.
The significance of Ivy’s resistance is highlighted via her actions and their penalties. Initially, her insurrection takes the type of delicate acts of defiance: questioning authority, gathering info, and forging alliances with those that share her want for change. As her understanding of the Republic’s corruption deepens, her resistance turns into extra overt, culminating in acts of sabotage and collaboration with the insurgent faction. Parallels may be drawn to historic examples of resistance actions, such because the suffragette motion’s wrestle for girls’s suffrage or the Civil Rights Motion’s struggle towards racial segregation. Like these actions, Ivy’s resistance highlights the facility of collective motion and the significance of difficult unjust legal guidelines and societal norms. The effectiveness of her actions may be measured not solely by their direct affect on the Republic’s stability but in addition by their capacity to encourage hope and empower others to affix the struggle for freedom.
In conclusion, Ivy’s resistance will not be merely a personality trait however an energetic pressure that drives the plot, shapes the themes, and supplies a compelling commentary on the facility of particular person company within the face of oppression. Her journey from compliance to defiance mirrors the struggles of resistance actions all through historical past, emphasizing the significance of difficult unjust methods and advocating for a extra equitable society. The challenges she faces, together with the specter of betrayal, the danger of seize, and the ethical compromises required to outlive, serve to underscore the complexities of resistance and the enduring human spirit’s capability to struggle for freedom and justice. Her story additionally emphasizes significance of the phrase as a result of if she doesn’t present some resistance the story of “amy engel the e book of ivy” can not transfer on.
5. Household loyalty
Household loyalty is a fancy and multifaceted theme deeply interwoven throughout the narrative of “The Ebook of Ivy.” It acts as each a binding pressure and a supply of battle, shaping the protagonist’s choices and influencing the broader political panorama. The preliminary trigger for Ivy’s cooperation along with her household’s plan, which entails strategically marrying into the rival Lattimer household, stems from a deeply ingrained sense of filial responsibility. This loyalty compels her to suppress her personal needs and doubtlessly compromise her ethical compass for the perceived advantage of her household’s standing throughout the Republic of Westmoreland. Nevertheless, because the narrative progresses, the perceived unity of the Westfall household is challenged, revealing inner divisions and conflicting agendas that pressure Ivy to reassess the true that means and extent of her allegiance. In essence, loyalty will not be portrayed as a monolithic idea, however as a fluid and sometimes ambiguous pressure topic to particular person interpretation and exterior pressures.
The significance of household loyalty as a element of the narrative is clear in its direct affect on Ivy’s actions and her final destiny. Her preliminary dedication to her household’s objectives locations her instantly throughout the coronary heart of the political intrigue, exposing her to harmful secrets and techniques and morally compromising conditions. As she witnesses the corruption and ruthlessness of the Republic, and the complicity of a few of her family members, her loyalty begins to waver, resulting in inner battle and in the end to acts of defiance. This inner wrestle, between loyalty to her household and her rising sense of ethical duty, varieties a central rigidity throughout the story. In real-world phrases, analogous conditions may be seen in historic cases the place people have been pressured to decide on between their household’s pursuits and their very own moral convictions, corresponding to in instances of whistleblowing on company or governmental misconduct. The sensible significance of understanding this theme lies in its capacity to impress essential reflection on the character of loyalty, the potential for its manipulation, and the moral complexities inherent in prioritizing familial obligations over broader societal issues.
In conclusion, the portrayal of household loyalty in “The Ebook of Ivy” serves as a strong exploration of the complexities of human relationships inside a dystopian context. The challenges confronted by Ivy in navigating conflicting loyalties underscore the significance of essential pondering, moral decision-making, and the potential for private progress within the face of societal pressures. The writer makes use of the theme to showcase the ethical compromises wanted and query of proper and fallacious. Her story challenges readers to think about the true that means of loyalty, and to query whether or not it ought to ever come on the expense of particular person conscience or the larger good.
6. Love’s problems
In “The Ebook of Ivy,” romantic entanglement will not be a easy subplot however an integral pressure that complicates the protagonist’s journey and amplifies the narrative’s thematic weight. The pre-arranged marriage to Bishop Lattimer, mandated by the Republic’s social engineering agenda, initiates a series of occasions that problem Ivy’s preconceived notions of affection and loyalty. The introduction of a real emotional reference to a personality exterior of this organized union introduces a stark distinction, highlighting the artificiality of the Republic’s system and the potential for genuine human connection to disrupt its fastidiously constructed order. This improvement will not be merely a romantic trope; it’s a deliberate narrative selection that underscores the person’s wrestle towards societal management. The cause-and-effect relationship is obvious: the oppressive system forces a union devoid of affection, resulting in the protagonist in search of real connection elsewhere, thereby difficult the Republic’s authority.
The emergence of real affection complicates Ivy’s mission and forces her to confront troublesome decisions. Her preliminary goal, tied to household loyalty and a obscure notion of societal betterment, turns into clouded by private needs and moral concerns. The romantic entanglements introduce a layer of vulnerability, making Ivy’s actions extra nuanced and her motivations extra relatable. This complexity enhances the reader’s engagement with the narrative and permits for a deeper exploration of the human situation. Take into account historic examples the place people concerned in resistance actions have confronted related dilemmas, balancing private relationships with the calls for of their political commitments. The alternatives turn into troublesome as the necessity for love or political motion has implications in “amy engel the e book of ivy” world.
The presence of affection’s problems in “The Ebook of Ivy” elevates the story past a easy dystopian narrative, reworking it right into a poignant exploration of human company and the facility of connection within the face of oppression. The challenges Ivy faces in navigating these emotional complexities serve to underscore the inherent worth of particular person autonomy and the significance of resisting methods that search to regulate not solely bodily actions but in addition emotional bonds. The story in the end challenges the reader to think about the true that means of affection, loyalty, and sacrifice in a world the place these ideas are twisted and manipulated for political acquire.
7. Ethical Compromise
Ethical compromise varieties a central thematic component inside Amy Engel’s “The Ebook of Ivy,” permeating the characters’ choices and shaping the narrative’s trajectory. The dystopian setting necessitates troublesome decisions the place adhering to strict ethical codes turns into a luxurious few can afford. The Republic of Westmoreland’s oppressive construction forces people to navigate a grey space, blurring the strains between proper and fallacious within the pursuit of survival or perceived larger good.
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Compromise for Survival
In “The Ebook of Ivy,” characters continuously have interaction in morally questionable actions to make sure their survival throughout the harsh confines of the Republic. Examples embrace Ivy’s preliminary willingness to take part in her household’s political schemes, even when these schemes contain deception and manipulation. This mirrors real-world eventualities the place people going through excessive poverty or political persecution could resort to unlawful or unethical actions to guard themselves and their households. The implications throughout the novel spotlight the dehumanizing results of oppressive regimes and the erosion of particular person morality underneath duress.
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Compromise for Political Acquire
The pursuit of political energy throughout the Republic of Westmoreland necessitates additional ethical compromises. Characters vying for affect typically resort to bribery, blackmail, and betrayal to advance their agendas. The Lattimer and Westfall households, as an example, have interaction in a relentless energy wrestle, keen to sacrifice moral ideas to take care of their dominance. This displays historic cases of political corruption the place leaders prioritize energy over moral conduct, typically resulting in societal decay. Within the novel, such compromises contribute to the general sense of ethical ambiguity and the erosion of belief throughout the neighborhood.
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Compromise to Shield Liked Ones
Characters typically make morally ambiguous decisions to guard their family members from hurt. Ivy, for instance, struggles with the choice to betray her household’s secrets and techniques with the intention to safeguard the lives of these she has come to look after. This displays the complicated moral dilemmas confronted by people in battle zones or underneath authoritarian rule, the place defending members of the family could require actions that violate private ethical codes. Inside “The Ebook of Ivy,” these compromises spotlight the energy of familial bonds and the lengths to which people will go to guard these they love, even at a private value.
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Compromise for the “Larger Good”
Some characters justify their morally questionable actions by claiming they’re serving a “larger good.” This typically entails sacrificing particular person rights and freedoms within the title of sustaining order or attaining a utopian imaginative and prescient. The Republic’s leaders, for instance, argue that pressured marriages and social engineering are essential to rebuild society after the struggle, even when they infringe upon particular person liberties. This displays historic cases the place governments have justified oppressive insurance policies by interesting to the next objective, typically resulting in widespread human rights abuses. Within the novel, this justification serves to masks the underlying corruption and power-hungry motives of these in cost.
The pervasive presence of ethical compromise inside “The Ebook of Ivy” serves as a stark commentary on the human capability for each good and evil, significantly throughout the context of oppressive methods. The troublesome decisions confronted by the characters pressure readers to confront their very own moral boundaries and to think about the potential penalties of compromising one’s values within the face of adversity. The thematic exploration of ethical compromise is central to understanding the complexities of the narrative and its broader implications concerning human nature and societal energy constructions.
8. Survival Crucial
Inside “The Ebook of Ivy,” the survival crucial capabilities not merely as a backdrop, however as a elementary driver of character actions and narrative developments. The post-apocalyptic panorama and the oppressive regime of the Republic of Westmoreland place people in a relentless state of precarity, the place the necessity to survive typically outweighs moral concerns and private needs. This overarching strain profoundly shapes the alternatives made by Ivy and the opposite characters, influencing their relationships, motivations, and supreme destinies.
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Useful resource Shortage and Competitors
The Republic of Westmoreland’s restricted assets create a aggressive setting the place people are pressured to prioritize their very own wants over these of others. Meals, shelter, and medical care are usually not assured, resulting in cases of hoarding, theft, and exploitation. This shortage fuels the survival crucial, pushing characters to make morally questionable decisions with the intention to safe fundamental requirements for themselves and their households. These conditions result in numerous ethical dilemmas.
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Political Oppression and Conformity
The Republic’s authoritarian management calls for strict adherence to its guidelines and ideologies, punishing dissent with imprisonment or demise. This risk of reprisal forces people to adapt to the regime’s expectations, suppressing their very own beliefs and needs with the intention to keep away from persecution. Conformity turns into a survival tactic, as overt resistance carries important dangers. In doing so their humanity is in jeopardy.
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Household Safety and Sacrificial Selections
The survival crucial is commonly manifested within the type of familial safety. Characters are keen to make sacrifices, even morally compromising ones, to make sure the security and well-being of their family members. Ivy, for instance, initially agrees to take part in her household’s political schemes out of a way of responsibility and a want to guard them from hurt. These sacrificial decisions spotlight the energy of familial bonds but in addition the troublesome moral dilemmas posed by the necessity to survive in a hostile setting. How can a personality select between saving a cherished one or standing by one’s personal beliefs?
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Ethical Flexibility and Adaptability
The cruel realities of the Republic of Westmoreland demand a level of ethical flexibility and adaptableness. Characters who rigidly adhere to their moral ideas could discover themselves unable to outlive. The power to compromise, to bend the principles, and to make troublesome decisions turns into important. This ethical flexibility, whereas doubtlessly compromising, is a testomony to the human capability for resilience and the need to outlive even within the face of overwhelming adversity. The pliability is the important thing to survival.
The multifaceted nature of the survival crucial in “The Ebook of Ivy” underscores the novel’s exploration of human nature underneath duress. The characters’ struggles to navigate a world the place survival is paramount supply a nuanced commentary on the complexities of morality, the facility of human connection, and the enduring quest for freedom within the face of oppression. These completely different types of surivival present us many challenges that face “amy engel the e book of ivy.”
Incessantly Requested Questions
This part addresses widespread inquiries and clarifies important elements of the novel “The Ebook of Ivy” by Amy Engel, offering concise solutions to reinforce comprehension and important evaluation.
Query 1: What’s the major setting of “The Ebook of Ivy”?
The narrative unfolds within the Republic of Westmoreland, a dystopian United States fractured and reshaped after a collection of devastating wars. This setting is characterised by useful resource shortage, political manipulation, and the enforcement of strict social management mechanisms.
Query 2: What are the central themes explored within the novel?
“The Ebook of Ivy” delves into themes of oppression, survival, household loyalty, political intrigue, and the wrestle for particular person company inside a totalitarian regime. Ethical compromise and the complexities of affection are additionally important thematic components.
Query 3: What’s the significance of the pressured marriage system throughout the Republic of Westmoreland?
The pressured marriage system serves as an important device of management throughout the Republic, designed to repopulate the nation after devastating wars. It represents a violation of particular person autonomy and an emblem of the Republic’s oppressive insurance policies.
Query 4: How does the political intrigue in “The Ebook of Ivy” affect the narrative?
The political maneuvering between the Westfall and Lattimer households fuels a lot of the battle throughout the story. This intrigue exposes the corruption and hidden agendas underlying the Republic’s faade and instantly impacts the protagonist’s decisions and allegiances.
Query 5: What motivates Ivy’s resistance towards the Republic of Westmoreland?
Ivy’s resistance stems from a rising disillusionment with the Republic’s oppressive insurance policies, the pressured marriage system, and the ethical compromises required to outlive. Her resistance can also be fueled by her want for particular person freedom and a greater future.
Query 6: How does “The Ebook of Ivy” hook up with real-world points?
Whereas fictional, the novel addresses related social issues, together with political corruption, the violation of human rights, gender inequality, and the hazards of unchecked governmental energy. Its themes resonate with historic and modern examples of oppression and resistance.
In abstract, “The Ebook of Ivy” presents a fancy dystopian narrative exploring the challenges of survival, resistance, and ethical decision-making inside an oppressive society. Its examination of those themes provides a essential perspective on energy dynamics and the significance of particular person company.
The succeeding part will give attention to a abstract and last considered “The Ebook of Ivy”.
Navigating Dystopian Landscapes
The next insights, derived from analyzing Amy Engel’s “The Ebook of Ivy,” present a framework for understanding and responding to oppressive methods. These ideas, whereas originating from a fictional context, supply relevant methods for navigating real-world challenges.
Tip 1: Acknowledge Systemic Management Mechanisms. Understanding how energy constructions function is paramount. Determine the precise strategies used to exert management, corresponding to propaganda, surveillance, and suppression of dissent. This consciousness is the preliminary step in formulating efficient countermeasures.
Tip 2: Domesticate Important Considering. Resist the temptation to passively settle for info disseminated by authority figures. Have interaction in impartial evaluation, query assumptions, and search out various views to kind well-informed opinions. This reduces susceptibility to manipulation.
Tip 3: Forge Strategic Alliances. Constructing alliances with like-minded people strengthens resistance efforts. Determine potential allies who share widespread objectives and values, and set up trust-based relationships to amplify collective motion. Acknowledge that shared objective is essential.
Tip 4: Prioritize Info Gathering. Entry to correct and well timed info is crucial for efficient decision-making. Develop strategies for buying intelligence, verifying its validity, and disseminating it strategically to tell and empower others. That is the important thing to survival.
Tip 5: Adapt to Shifting Circumstances. Dystopian environments are characterised by instability and unpredictability. Domesticate adaptability and resilience to navigate unexpected challenges and regulate methods accordingly. Rigidity can show detrimental.
Tip 6: Protect Ethical Integrity. Within the face of oppression, sustaining moral ideas is essential. Resist the temptation to compromise private values for short-term acquire, as this may erode the foundations of resistance and result in long-term penalties. It defines you as a human being.
Tip 7: Embrace Incremental Resistance. Overt insurrection may be perilous. Have interaction in delicate acts of defiance and non-compliance to progressively undermine the system. These incremental actions, whereas seemingly insignificant, can collectively contribute to significant change.
Tip 8: Hope is crucial. Even within the darkest of instances, by no means lose hope in higher future. Preserve combating for what you imagine in.
By making use of these ideas, people can navigate oppressive environments with larger consciousness, resilience, and strategic effectiveness. These insights are designed to foster proactive engagement and promote constructive change within the face of adversity.
The ultimate part of this text will tackle the Abstract and Remaining ideas part.
Conclusion
This evaluation has explored the multifaceted dimensions of “amy engel the e book of ivy,” elucidating its dystopian setting, thematic issues, and character dynamics. The investigation encompassed the societal management mechanisms, the protagonist’s resistance, and the moral dilemmas inherent in a world outlined by oppression and manipulation. The novel serves as an examination of political energy, particular person company, and the enduring human spirit within the face of adversity.
The narrative’s exploration of societal constructions, human relationships, and ethical decisions prompts a continued reflection on the safeguards essential to guard particular person liberties and forestall the erosion of moral ideas. “Amy Engel the e book of ivy” encourages a essential evaluation of latest social and political methods, urging vigilance towards the encroachment of authoritarianism and the preservation of elementary human rights.
