Obsession Case

Obsession is an iron mask that permits us to gaze in only one direction at one thing (Fran, 2012). Obsession is all over the place in literature from love to lust to religion to greed and power. Obsession seems to be a driving force we see in Science fiction in many aspects that lead to can lead to madness. Madness is what we consider out of the norm, something that is not normal to our society. Madness is considered a sub culture to Science fiction. But sometimes they forget what is the driven force to madness is, that would be the obsession. An obsession can drive one to madness, but it can also define what science fiction is all about. It can drive one to new technological advances or scientific discoveries and advancements too. This paper will explore how obsession plays a role in science fiction. Obsession is the domination of ideas, images, desires, etc in one's mind, while Science Fiction is fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes. Obsession is a hidden monster inside the minds of people and can lead to madness and sometimes to scientific advances.

Obsession is a hidden monster in the minds of an individual that drives them so far beyond our norm, they are considered to be in a state of madness. Madness is defined as the state of being mentally ill, extremely foolish behavior. The first story we will explore is "The Lake of Artificial Things". In this story we see Miranda obsessed with the idea of seeing Daniel. She saw him once in the therapist's office and that fueled her passion to see Daniel into an obsession. "I had other things I wanted to say to him, it doesn't feel resolved." Can I see him again, Please Anna?" (Fowler, 1985). Her obsession then had led her to seeing Daniel outside of her therapist's office and into her home, everyday life. "Where am I really? I must be with Anna" But she wasn't. "Her feet dangled by the wheels, she concentrated until she could feel them" (Fowler, 1985). She was at home. Miranda had let the obsession of wanting to see Daniel drive her to making him the center of all her thoughts. It drove her to wanting more after one session. It became madness when she allowed her thoughts to be dominated by Daniel outside of the therapist's office. "If the object of our obsession is taken from us, we find ourselves devastated; often convinced we've lost our last chance at happiness" (Lickerman, 2010). This quote shows us how Miranda thought that if this time with Daniel was taken away she wouldn't be happy, therefore she drove herself to madness in thinking she needed Daniel to be happy.

Next, is from the story "Comes Now the Power". Milt Rand was obsessed with nothing but his power. "Nights, he lay awake cursing." (Zelazny, 1966). "Walking the streets, addressing his classes at the institute, sitting in