King Lear: Innocence vs Evil
A contrasting example which we just read is "King Lear" by Shakespeare. Edmund, a main character who is the "bastard son" of Gloucester, betrays his family in order to help rule England with the two evil sisters, Goneril and Regan. Edmund feels that he has been mistreated his whole life not only by his family, but by society too, purely for the reason that he is and is referred to as a "bastard child." He is deceived as being lower than everyone else because he was an "accident," and he doesn't get the chance to actually show and prove to everyone his real personality, character, and identity. The reader would now believe that because of his neglected upbringing, this results in his jealousy and evil ambition which is slowly displayed as he begins his evil and powerful quest with Goneril and Regan. However, at the end of the play as Edmund is about to die, he proclaims that he was simply born as a natural evil person. Is this true? Can a person really be born evil? Is it be genetic? I don't believe so. I don't believe a person can be born evil without every knowing anything about themselves, the world, and certain values and traits which society carries. Edmund says this to try to ask for forgiveness and remorse for all of his poor actions, which he now realizes negatively affected every character in the play, several of which are his direct family members.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Wuthering Heights: Innocence vs Evil
In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Heathcliff is the main character in this novel who is a prime example of a character born inherently good and turns evil because of his upbringing. Heathcliff is adopted into the Earnshaw family, and is described as being a normal, quiet, little child who is greatly loved particularly by Mr. Earnshaw and Catherine Earnshaw. However, as Mr. Earnshaw dies, his upbringing completely changes into hell. Heathcliff is poorly treated by Mrs. Earnshaw and Hindley Earnshaw. They neglect him, verbally abuse him, and figuratively make him into the family slave. This goes on for many years, until he is grown enough to take care of himself and fight his own battle. However, these events that took place in his early stage of childhood shape his personality and identity for the rest of his life. He becomes a grumpy, angry, old man who treats everyone else the way he was treated as a child. Because of his early life events, Heathcliff turns into an "evil" person purely shaped by his scarring and neglected childhood.
In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Heathcliff is the main character in this novel who is a prime example of a character born inherently good and turns evil because of his upbringing. Heathcliff is adopted into the Earnshaw family, and is described as being a normal, quiet, little child who is greatly loved particularly by Mr. Earnshaw and Catherine Earnshaw. However, as Mr. Earnshaw dies, his upbringing completely changes into hell. Heathcliff is poorly treated by Mrs. Earnshaw and Hindley Earnshaw. They neglect him, verbally abuse him, and figuratively make him into the family slave. This goes on for many years, until he is grown enough to take care of himself and fight his own battle. However, these events that took place in his early stage of childhood shape his personality and identity for the rest of his life. He becomes a grumpy, angry, old man who treats everyone else the way he was treated as a child. Because of his early life events, Heathcliff turns into an "evil" person purely shaped by his scarring and neglected childhood.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Brendan's Big Question: Innocence vs. Evil
Throughout literature, society, and all aspects of human life, innocence and evil are displayed. It doesn't matter where you or who you are, there will always be good and evil. Within literature, you generally have a character who is a good, innocent person . This character is generally a young person, who hasn't been exposed to certain types of bad actions or just doesn't understand them yet. And then you have a villain/antagonist who is provoking and aggravating someone or something. Was this atagonist at one time a good, innocent person? Were they born to be evil? Is humankind inherently good or evil?
I believe that humankind is inherently born to be good. All people are born with the slight ability to reason and tolerate certain actions, people, and events. This reason and tolerance suggests that everyone is born with the same instinct and are morally righteous. However, as we all know, mankind isn't all good. There is bad in this world. So where does this bad come from? How does an inherently good child become tainted by evil?
A person's uprising is the most important aspect that contributes to their eventual character and identity. The way they were brought up by their family or guardian suggests the eventual outcome of who they will be. Family/guardian settings is a factor of possible future character and identity. What did their family/guardian believe in? Were they positive? Did they stress morally righteous actions and/or education? All of these are simply small questions that are big factors and can affect a child's upbringing and possibly who they become. Another factor that can turn good into evil are past events. Certain past events and a person's response to those events can trigger a taint from good to evil. For example, a child who is abused by his/her parents may become secluded and eventually full of anger, range, and vengeance. The event of being abused may trigger certain responsive and negative characteristics that will indulge into an evil personality.
Throughout literature, society, and all aspects of human life, innocence and evil are displayed. It doesn't matter where you or who you are, there will always be good and evil. Within literature, you generally have a character who is a good, innocent person . This character is generally a young person, who hasn't been exposed to certain types of bad actions or just doesn't understand them yet. And then you have a villain/antagonist who is provoking and aggravating someone or something. Was this atagonist at one time a good, innocent person? Were they born to be evil? Is humankind inherently good or evil?
I believe that humankind is inherently born to be good. All people are born with the slight ability to reason and tolerate certain actions, people, and events. This reason and tolerance suggests that everyone is born with the same instinct and are morally righteous. However, as we all know, mankind isn't all good. There is bad in this world. So where does this bad come from? How does an inherently good child become tainted by evil?
A person's uprising is the most important aspect that contributes to their eventual character and identity. The way they were brought up by their family or guardian suggests the eventual outcome of who they will be. Family/guardian settings is a factor of possible future character and identity. What did their family/guardian believe in? Were they positive? Did they stress morally righteous actions and/or education? All of these are simply small questions that are big factors and can affect a child's upbringing and possibly who they become. Another factor that can turn good into evil are past events. Certain past events and a person's response to those events can trigger a taint from good to evil. For example, a child who is abused by his/her parents may become secluded and eventually full of anger, range, and vengeance. The event of being abused may trigger certain responsive and negative characteristics that will indulge into an evil personality.
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