ENGL 200 D: Reading Literature: Literature in the Marketplace

Hi, sorry about the late post. I thought I submitted it but I didn’t.

For my second paper, I want to look at Debra from Down and Out in the Magical Kingdom. Her motivation is to acquire large amounts of Whuffie—not because she wants to do anything specific with it, but just because she can. Her reason for living is to have more successes. Debra has no regard for human life, which goes to show how very Bitchun she is. Debra is fully integrated in this society, where a body is nothing more than a body. Her views on the economy are deeply ingrained in her actions, and while Debra does some things that are morally questionable, she conforms completely to the rules that guide the society (and knows how to get around them).

Debra is successful because she is so fully integrated into Bitchun society. She is fresh and willing to let go of the past, as demonstrated by wanting to change the park into what people are more excited to see (simulations). Debra is the type of person who benefits most in a merit-based society because she has concrete skills (programming simulations) and people skills.

The aspect of Debra I would like to focus on is her ruthlessness. She is kicked out of Disneyworld for killing Julius, but nothing more—I found this very interesting because in Bitchun society, there isn’t much value placed on life (see: restore to backup). Bitchun society is designed so that group success rewards individuals, and the only way an individual can succeed is through helping the group. But Debra is able to earn a lot of Whuffie without contributing to society in a positive way. I want to look at how Debra takes advantage of Bitchun society to succeed.