Writing Homework Help

The Transformation of Mae Holland

ESSAY #4 TOPIC:

Over the course of the novel, protagonist Mae Holland transforms from a young idealist into a pawn for The Circle. The transformation is a gradual one, but one that is absolute. While working for The Circle, Mae experiences continuous brainwashing and coaching from her superiors, and she also faces great pressure from outsiders who are watching her every move after she goes “transparent”. Mae feels a conflict between who she is inside versus who she presents herself to the world as. By the end of the novel, though, Mae succumbs to the pressure, and, for all intents and purposes, becomes a tool of The Circle.

Who is most responsible for Mae’s transformation? Is it the Circlers like Bailey, Stenton, Dan, Denise and Josiah, with their coercive practices? Or is it the outsiders behind screens who constantly watch, validate, and influence Mae’s actions? Or do you feel the greatest responsibility belongs to Mae herself?

Main Task: Make an argument for who you believe is most responsible for Mae’s transformation, and as you back it with textual support, think about the significance of the transformation. You should support your position with quotes from The Circle and quotes from one or more of the nonfiction/secondary readings we have done as a class (“The Undercover Parent”, “Author Dave Eggers Calls for Ethical Parameters on Tech at Stanford Event”, “What Does the Panopticon Mean in the Age of Digital Surveillance?”, “How Silicon Valley Hooks Us”)

Who is most responsible for the change in Mae, and what might Eggers have been trying to say through the transformation? Why do you believe he ended the book the way he did, and what might his message be for those of us who read and watch Mae’s transformation?