Ch.11- This Is Another Step That Marcus Has Taken to Try to Get Revenge on the Government

Analysis

Ch.11- This is another step that Marcus has taken to try to get revenge on the government. This is important, so that the DHS can not track him down and read his messages. This is also an important part because he meets up with Ange, who is very enthusiastic about this movement. It is also important to note that she is the first one who sent him the messages that were encrypted. Now, the Xnet has turned into more of a movement with the concert that was organized through it, without Marcus knowing. The slogan “Don’t trust anyone over 25” is an important as well because it shows that comparison between the hippie movement and their movement. The hippie movement slogan was “Don’t trust anyone over 30” and so it is trying to show that their movement has more to it than just a little kids’ movement. In the school, Ms. Galvez, helps Marcus realize the reason behind why is doing all of this, the constitution. This gets him to realize that what the government is doing right now is going against how this country was founded.

Ch.12- Ms. Galvez comes up with the idea that they should do an extra-credit paper on their thoughts about the hippie movement to what is happening right now. This once again shows you the comparison between what Marcus is trying to do, and how the hippies tried to protest the Vietnam War to stop. The fact that Van was told about this concert and refused to go, means that Marcus and Van have drifted away from each other. Yet the fact that Ange goes with Marcus, shows that Marcus is starting to turn away from his past and go towards the future. The concert gets a huge turnout of kids, which makes me believe that this is supposed to represent Woodstock. What was the most surprising part about this was how the government took action against them. The gas by itself was too much to use against the kids, but the beating and taking them in was too drastic.

Ch.13- It turns out that the press was even against this gathering, despite Marcus’s attempts to show their side of the story. The fact is that everyone is treating this as the Woodstock concert with the out of control actions and the drugs, even though none of this really happened. Back at school, there is a new teacher teaching Marcus’s history class. She is important because her view is the polar opposite of Mrs. Galvez. Her views support the view of the DHS and the way they are conducting themselves. It is obvious she was put into the classroom to brainwash the students, so that they believe that the government can do what they want in times of national security. This of course upsets Marcus and he ends up going to the Deans office and gets suspended. This allows Marcus to realize that he can’t just get angry about what is happening because all that will get him is in trouble.

Ch.14- Now that Marcus is suspended; he is able to work on the Xnet a little more. He is able to explore around the town and learns more about the history of the place he grew up in. This gives him more of an appreciation of his city and gives him a little more motivation that what he is doing is right. Later in the day, he gets many emails regarding an interview with him about the Xnet. At first Marcus refuses because they might just be the DHS in disguise; however, Ange comes up with a plan that the interview should be done in the game Clockwork Plunder. These interviews are very important because they will allow everyone to see what the Xnetters are doing and allow Marcus to explain what they are trying to do, instead of assuming they are terrorists.

Ch.15- Unfortunately, the press conference didn’t go to well, even though Marcus was able to get out everything that he had wanted to say and more. The problem was that the reporters had handpicked certain words to make them sound like a terrorist group instead of including the entire answer. This starts to set off some chain reactions by allowing the DHS to go more out and to be given more power. Marcus, realizing that this is causing innocent people to go to jail, decides to put up an article on the Xnet. He states that he is no longer going to be jamming and that he encourages others to stop as well. He realizes that he is taking a step back, but the responsibility of so many people causes him to do this. Then he gets the letter from Zeb, and that puts too much on him, causing him to seek help. At this point, Marcus is way over his head and he realizes it, so he asks for help from his parents. He also now has evidence that Darryl was alive and can now use that against the DHS.