The Humor and Irony of Brooklyn Project by William Tenn: A Time Travel Story that Changed History
Brooklyn Project by William Tenn: A Time Travel Paradox
Introduction
Time travel is one of the most fascinating and challenging topics in science fiction. It raises intriguing questions about the nature of reality, causality, free will, and morality. It also offers endless possibilities for storytelling, as writers can explore different scenarios, timelines, and outcomes of changing the past or visiting the future.
brooklyn project william tenn pdf 11
One of the earliest and most influential examples of time travel fiction is Brooklyn Project, a short story by William Tenn. Published in 1950, it tells the story of a scientific experiment that sends a man back to the prehistoric era, with unexpected and hilarious consequences. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of humor, satire, and paradox, and has inspired many other works in the genre.
In this article, we will provide a summary and an analysis of Brooklyn Project, and explain why it is still relevant and enjoyable today. We will also compare it to some other famous time travel stories, and see what we can learn from it.
Summary of Brooklyn Project
The setting and the characters
The story takes place in a secret laboratory in Brooklyn, New York, where a team of scientists led by Professor Edward R. Fenton are conducting a groundbreaking experiment: they have built a device that can send a human being back in time. The device consists of a metal sphere with a seat inside, surrounded by coils and wires. The sphere is connected to a control panel that can adjust the destination date and location.
The volunteer for the experiment is Francis Arlen Cottenwood, a young reporter who works for The New York Times. He is eager to witness history first-hand, and hopes to write an exclusive story about his experience. He is also curious about the fate of his ancestors, who came from England to America in the 17th century.
The other characters are Dr. Robert Hanslowe, a psychologist who monitors Cottenwood's mental state; Dr. Henry Blankey, an engineer who operates the device; Dr. Albert Simms, a historian who provides historical information; Dr. Ruth Golding, a physicist who supervises the experiment; and General Haynesworth, a military officer who represents the government's interest in the project.
The plot and the twist
The experiment begins with Cottenwood entering the sphere and putting on a helmet that allows him to communicate with the laboratory. He is then sent back to November 5th, 1609, near Plymouth Rock, where he expects to meet some of his ancestors who were among the first settlers in America.
However, as soon as he arrives, he realizes that something is wrong: he sees a group of Native Americans wearing modern clothes and speaking English. They greet him warmly and invite him to join them for a feast. Cottenwood is confused and suspicious, but he decides to play along and pretend that he is one of them.
He soon discovers that these Native Americans are actually descendants of the original settlers, who have been living in harmony with the natives for centuries. They have adopted their culture, language, and religion, and have forgotten their European heritage. They also have a peculiar tradition: every year, on November 5th, they reenact the arrival of the Mayflower, the ship that brought the pilgrims to America. They dress up as Europeans, act out scenes from their history books, and celebrate their friendship with the natives.
Cottenwood is shocked and appalled by this scenario, and tries to find out what happened to his ancestors. He learns that they were killed by a mysterious plague that wiped out most of the European population in America. The only survivors were those who intermarried with the natives and assimilated into their society.
He also learns that the plague was caused by a strange metal object that was found on the shore by a native boy. The object was a sphere with a seat inside, surrounded by coils and wires. The boy opened it and found a skeleton wearing a helmet. He touched it and contracted a deadly virus that spread rapidly among the Europeans.
Cottenwood realizes that the sphere is the same device that he came in, and that the skeleton is his own corpse. He has unwittingly caused the death of his ancestors and altered the course of history. He has also created a paradox: if he never existed, how could he have traveled back in time?
The themes and the message
Brooklyn Project is a brilliant satire of history and politics, as well as a commentary on human nature. It mocks the idea of American exceptionalism, the belief that America has a unique and superior role in the world. It shows how history can be distorted and manipulated by those who write it, and how culture can be erased and replaced by those who dominate it.
It also exposes the irony of human curiosity and ambition, which can lead to unforeseen and disastrous consequences. Cottenwood's desire to explore the past and write about it results in destroying his own identity and heritage. His interference with history creates a paradox that defies logic and reason.
The story also raises ethical questions about the morality of time travel, and whether it is right or wrong to change the past or observe it. It suggests that time travel is a dangerous and irresponsible act, that can have unpredictable and irreversible effects on reality.
Analysis of Brooklyn Project
The paradox of time travel
One of the most intriguing aspects of Brooklyn Project is the paradox that it creates. A paradox is a contradiction or an inconsistency that defies logic or common sense. A time travel paradox is a paradox that involves changing or influencing events in the past or the future.
There are different types of time travel paradoxes, such as:
The grandfather paradox: This occurs when a person travels back in time and kills their own grandfather before their father or mother is born. This prevents their own existence, which means they could not have traveled back in time in the first place.
The bootstrap paradox: This occurs when a person travels back in time and gives an object or information to someone who then uses it to create or discover something in the future. This creates a loop where the object or information has no origin or source.
The predestination paradox: This occurs when a person travels back in time and causes or fulfills an event that was already destined to happen. This implies that their actions were predetermined and inevitable, which contradicts the notion of free will.
Brooklyn Project involves a combination of these paradoxes: Cottenwood travels back in time and causes his own death, which prevents his own birth, which prevents his own time travel (grandfather paradox). He also brings an object (the sphere) that has no origin or source, since it was created in the future but found in the past (bootstrap paradox). He also fulfills an event (the plague) that was already destined to happen, since it was recorded in history books (predestination paradox).
These paradoxes create a logical impossibility: Cottenwood both exists and does not exist at the same time. He both causes and does not cause his own death at the same time. He both changes and does not change history at the same time.
There are different ways to resolve or avoid these paradoxes, such as:
The multiverse theory: This suggests that there are multiple parallel universes or realities, where different versions of events can happen. When a person travels back in time, they create a new branch or timeline, where they can change things without affecting their original timeline.
The self-consistency principle: This suggests that there is only one universe or reality, where everything is fixed and consistent. When a person travels back in time, they cannot change anything that has already happened. They can only fulfill their role in the events that they are part of.
The multiple outcomes theory: This suggests that there are multiple possible outcomes for every event, and that time travel can create new outcomes that coexist with the original ones. When a person travels back in time, they can change things without creating a paradox, but they also create a new timeline that branches off from the original one.
Brooklyn Project does not explicitly adopt any of these theories, but rather leaves the paradox unresolved and ambiguous. The story ends with Cottenwood's scream of horror as he realizes his fate, and the narrator's remark that \"the experiment was successful\". The reader is left to wonder what happens next: does Cottenwood disappear from existence? Does he create a new timeline? Does he fulfill his role in history? Does he break the loop somehow?
The satire of history and politics
Another aspect of Brooklyn Project is the satire of history and politics, which is evident in the contrast between Cottenwood's expectations and the reality he encounters. Cottenwood is a typical American patriot, who believes in the greatness and superiority of his country and its culture. He is proud of his ancestors, who he thinks were brave and noble pioneers who founded a new nation. He is also ignorant and arrogant, as he shows no respect or interest for the native people or their culture.
However, when he travels back in time, he finds out that his assumptions are wrong: his ancestors were not heroes, but victims of a plague that he caused; his country and culture never existed, but were replaced by a native society that adopted some European elements; his identity and heritage were erased, but preserved by a mock ritual that celebrates the friendship between the natives and the settlers.
The story mocks the idea of American exceptionalism, which is the belief that America has a unique and superior role in the world. It shows how history can be changed by a single event, and how culture can be lost or transformed by assimilation or domination. It also shows how history can be distorted and manipulated by those who write it or reenact it.
The story also criticizes the hypocrisy and violence of colonialism and imperialism, which are the practices of invading and exploiting other lands and peoples for economic or political gain. It shows how the Europeans brought diseases and death to the natives, and how they tried to impose their religion and culture on them. It also shows how the natives resisted and survived by adapting and integrating some European elements into their own society.
The irony of human nature
A third aspect of Brooklyn Project is the irony of human nature, which is evident in Cottenwood's actions and reactions. Cottenwood is driven by curiosity and ambition, which are common human traits that can lead to discovery and progress, but also to disaster and destruction. He wants to explore the past and write about it, but he ends up ruining it and erasing himself from it.
Cottenwood is also a victim of his own ignorance and arrogance, which are common human flaws that can cause misunderstanding and conflict. He does not know or care about the consequences of his time travel, nor does he respect or appreciate the native people or their culture. He thinks he knows better than them, but he is actually clueless and helpless.
The story exposes the irony of human curiosity and ambition, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It also exposes the irony of human ignorance and arrogance, which can be both a source of humor and tragedy.
Conclusion
What makes Brooklyn Project a classic?
Brooklyn Project is a classic because it is one of the first and most influential examples of time travel fiction. It introduced many of the concepts and paradoxes that have become staples of the genre, such as causal loops, grandfather paradoxes, bootstrap paradoxes, predestination paradoxes, etc. It also inspired many other works that explored similar themes and scenarios, such as The Terminator, Back to the Future, 12 Monkeys, Looper, etc.
Brooklyn Project is also a classic because it is a masterpiece of humor, satire, and paradox. It uses time travel as a device to mock and criticize history and politics, as well as human nature. It creates a hilarious and absurd situation that exposes the irony and contradiction of human actions and reactions. It also leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and bewilderment, as they try to make sense of the paradox that the story creates.
How does it compare to other time travel stories?
Brooklyn Project is different from other time travel stories in several ways. First, it is one of the few stories that uses time travel as a means of comedy, rather than drama or action. It does not focus on the adventure or the danger of time travel, but rather on the humor and the paradox of it. Second, it is one of the few stories that does not offer a clear or satisfying resolution to the paradox that it creates. It does not explain or justify how time travel works, or how the paradox can be resolved or avoided. It leaves the reader with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, rather than closure or clarity. Third, it is one of the few stories that does not present time travel as a positive or desirable thing, but rather as a negative or regrettable one. It does not show time travel as a way of fulfilling a wish or a dream, but rather as a way of causing a nightmare or a disaster.
What can we learn from it?
We can learn many things from Brooklyn Project, such as:
The importance of being aware and respectful of other cultures and peoples, and not imposing our own values or beliefs on them.
The importance of being humble and cautious about our curiosity and ambition, and not interfering with things that we do not understand or control.
The importance of being careful and responsible about our actions and decisions, and not ignoring or forgetting their consequences.
The importance of being open and flexible about our assumptions and expectations, and not clinging to fixed or rigid ideas.
The importance of being creative and imaginative about our possibilities and alternatives, and not limiting ourselves to one or single outcomes.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Project:
Q: When was Brooklyn Project published?A: Brooklyn Project was published in 1950 in Astounding Science Fiction, a magazine edited by John W. Campbell.
Q: Who is William Tenn?A: William Tenn is the pen name of Philip Klass, a British-born American writer and academic. He is best known for his science fiction stories, which often combine humor, satire, and paradox.
Q: What is the significance of November 5th?A: November 5th is the date of Guy Fawkes Night, a British celebration that commemorates the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. It is also the date of Cottenwood's time travel destination in Brooklyn Project.
Q: What is the meaning of the title?A: The title refers to the name of the secret laboratory in Brooklyn where the experiment takes place. It also suggests a contrast between Brooklyn, a symbol of modern America, and Plymouth Rock, a symbol of colonial America.
Q: What is the moral of the story?A: The moral of the story is that time travel is a dangerous and irresponsible act, that can have unpredictable and irreversible effects on reality. It also implies that history is not fixed or predetermined, but rather contingent and mutable.
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