time's arrow: the human dimension

Time: The Human DimensionLuke Emmoth

~ Purpose ~• How do we see each other and the

world?• “Time passed. Time, the human

dimension, which makes us everything we are.” (68)–Who am I?–What is time?– The reverse narration enables Amis to

contrast Tod and the narrator, the humans with time

~ To Dream a Race ~• “Our preternatural purpose? To

dream a race. To make a people from the weather. From thunder and from lighting. With gas, with electricity, with shit, with fire.” (120)– Tod wishes to build the Aryan race from

the destruction of all other races.– The narrator wants to breathe life into

many races (the dead) with (in reverse), gas, electricity, fire, etc.

– Time forward vs. time backward

~ Mortality and Time ~ • “It’s a mortal weariness. Maybe I’m

tired of being human, if human is what I am.” (93)

• “For me the stars are motelike, just twists of dust.” (91)–No fear of mortal death– Time is humanizing; mortality leads to

morality–Narrator is still more humane than Tod– Finite vs. Infinite time

~ Purpose ~

Who are we?What is time?