Escape from Camp 14 Connections

[JustinK.]

While reading this book, i realized that it reminds me of many connections that i can make.

1)Things Fall Apart (world history)- unlike this story, prisoners in North Korea are strongly affected by their family or relatives. If one relative escapes, then you (innocent) will need to "cleanse" your blood by hard work.... Also if you were born in a family that is closely related to the ruling party, then you gain advantage.

2)China- Back when China was under a dictator, they had a similar way of treating the people. Everyone had to work long hours. They were also divided, children's all together, male adults, and female adults. This was meant to avoid any family relationships. Just like the North Korean camps, false education about neighboring countries were spread to prevent any thoughts of allying. At the time, Taiwan had better equipments, which terrified the Chinese dictator. He thought that his people might betray him and form alliance with Taiwan to overthrow his position. Something interesting is that, both countries value a person's blood line. In China, if you or your relatives were a knowledgable or wealthy person, you will be sent to a countryside place where you live in bad conditions. In Korea, if you or your relatives tried to escape or committed a crime in the past, you will be punished harshly.

:3 i got only 2 :3~~

[junilee26]

Justin! While reading camp 14 I thought about the book Things fall apart toooo!
they do have a connection with the cruelty level of punishment! Reading about Things fall apart and Escape from camp 14 disgusts me because of all the cruel, uncivilized and unhuman-like behaviors. But, yeah that's the connection i made too! haha

[woojongpark]

The factory part reminded me of Industrial Revolution from 18th or 19th century Europe. The working conditions were similar....or at least I thought so. In both places, workers had to work quickly with little rest, and no one cared if anyone got hurt by an accident.

[jungholee]

hmm.. I find the connection between the camp and our society. In the camp, the power chose only by power. I mean...something like safari, people who has more power can beat weaker people. Also in our society, it's just same rule, but it ruled by money, it's not power, but financial problem... I don't get what I just said, but my idea is using power in the camp is just same as using money and do whatever they want to do in our society.

[sazad100]

I cannot think of any real life connections but before Shin escaped, during the time he decided to escape, that time it reminded me of a TV series Prison Break where the protagonist was also feeling pumped before escaping.

[ExtremelyExtremeExtremist]

1. Gulag: Soviet Union had similar camps described in Escape from Camp 14. Historically, North Korea made camps similar to Soviet Union. Things that are different in North Korea are that condition is worse, guards are ruthless toward prisoners, and prisoners are brainwashed to hate their parents.

2. Industrial Revolution: Condition in garment factory is similar to factories during Industrial Revolution. Prisoners worked for a long time, didn¡¯t care about others, and supervisor (foreman or some sort) didn¡¯t do much work.

[akari]

hi

[woori]

hi

[mirim002]

when i was reading about camp 14, it kind of made me thought of the movie Equilibrium...because the children and the people in camp 14 would tell the guards if the other people did something wrong and did not follow the rules. In equilibrium, they also do the same thing, if the other people does not put in their injections at the right time, or if they show their emotions.

[rachel]

hello

[brandonina]

I was also able to connect the fact that bloodlines are significant in North Korea to Things Fall Apart because Okonkwo, the main character in the story, is strongly influenced by his father's bad reputation. He had to fight off in order to become successful and overcome what his father has done to affect his life, which is similar to Shin's life.
Though I didn't get to read the book, I was able to connect this book to a movie that was full with tortures and violent scenes. One was when the innocent guy had to "reveal" a fact that he wasn't even aware of in order to benefit some North Korean clan and he was tortured with an electric shock, which bubbles came out of his mouth (biologically rare).