Author:
Arthur Porges
Date
of Publication: 1964
Type of text:
Short story
Setting:
14th
April 2015 (narrative time) (ln 1-34): California plant/laboratory (ln 27); (ln 35-end): Court of
justice/Law/Court/Courtroom
Content:
The story can be divided into 2 parts. In the first
part of the story there is a description of the “time-machine”, in fact the
author talks about the development, the characteristics and the cost of the
special machine. In the second part of the story there is a report regarding the
“Preliminary Hearing”: the USA court versus Dr Carnot and Dr Kent. Judge
Clark asks Dr Carnot a series of questions about the destruction of the
time-machine. Dr Carnot reveals to the court that he and Dr Kent had destroyed
the time-machine because a “madman”, Michael Nauss, wanted to go back to the
past to rescue Jesus Christ from the Roman soldiers in order to save him from
crucifixion. Nauss had very good chances of succeeding because he brought with
him a repeating rifle. The two scientists feared the consequences of Nauss’s
action on the whole path of history in the lost two thousand years and therefore
destroyed the time-machine. (ln 158: A little change at the source can make a
tremendous difference at the mouth). The situation was very dangerous and there
was no time to lose. They wanted to prevent him arriving in the past. As the
present is linked to the past, he could change the course of history.
Aim:
The author wants to tell us that sometimes technological developments could
produce dangerous effects on man and his society, especially if it is used by
crackpots.
Theme:
Scientific development and its uses in society. Its
moral and social effects and implications. The role of scientists and the
government in case of dangerous use of technology.
Characters:
There are two characters: Judge Clark and Dr Carnot
and two secondary characters Dr Kent, Michael Nauss, a crazy/mad man (ln
179-181), Senator King (ln 66-68), class of five technician, Professor Pirenian
of the National Security Council.
Narrator:
(ln 1-34): 3rd person; (ln 35-end): no
narrator.
Narrative
technique: (ln 1-34): narration and description of the machine; (ln 35-end):
dialogue.
Language: In the first part of the story
there are many scientific and technical words (terms) regarding the description
of the machine and its function. The language is quite simple and usually we can
find a little slang. The sentences are short and usually simple to understand.
The dialogue is formal, because they are in a Court Law.
Biblical or historical references: “His intention was nothing less than to arrive at Golgotha in time to rescue Jesus Christ from the Roman soldiers”. (ln 189-191).
Title: The title can refer to the following characters in the story: Dr Carnot and Dr Kent were the rescuers who saved the world from Nauss’s action. Nauss wanted to be the rescuer of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Savior, the rescuer of mankind.
About the author:
Arthur Porges was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1915 and there attended school. Later he entered the Illinois Institute of Technology where he graduated in Mathematics in 1940. Then he started an academic career becoming professor of Mathematics in Chicago and from wich he retired in 1975. He began to wrote in 1950's. his first story was, The Rats, published in 1952, was very acclaimed and his second story, The Fly, had the same success. He didn't become a full-time writer, keeping his job as professor: for this reason his production has remained very limited until 1968, when he stopped writing.
"The Rescuer" (1962), is a startling piece that concerns itself with time travel and the paradoxes that could ensue when one takes it upon oneself to alter the past. This story, in fact, time-travel involves moral and psycological dilemmas.
