In Philip Pullman's three book series, His Dark Materials, readers find themselves following a pair of children across a multiverse as they fight to do what they believe is right. By having his characters challenge those who are in power Pullman is is able to show readers how he believes we should live our lives. Throughout the trilogy there are a number of times in which one character questions the authority of a person who is in charge. By doing this Philip Pullman shows us how he believes we should live our lives. Pullman argues that we should question authority to make sure that power is in the right hands. The main character of the trilogy, Lyra, is a frequent rule breaker and commonly disobeys authority, but it isn’t until she experiences …show more content…
When the Gyptians meet for their two ropings one man, Raymond van Gerrit, questions Lord Faa on two occasions. Both times Lord Faa has clear and well thought answers for Raymond and the man was quieted. Despite Raymond not finding anything wrong with Lord Faa’s decisions, the Gyptian was right to question his ruler. Had the Gyptian ruler not been questioned about his decisions to sacrifice his own people for the children of landlopers or for Lyra his subjects may not have known why he had made the decisions he had made. Although Raymond’s questioning did not expose Lord Faa to be a folly leader it did help prove that the man in charge was making the right decisions. Throughout the trilogy we also see examples of groups that do not question authority. One group, despite being very large, is faceless and seems to be completely under the thumb of a disciple authority. The humans and daemons of Lyra’s world are cemented under the rule of the church. The masses do not question the authority of the church. Because of this discoveries that are not backed by the church are considered heresy and thrown out. This leads to the stagnation of societal
To hold authority is to possess power, and when one has power over a person or people he or she is generally feared. In t...
Conclusion: It is often difficult for individuals to disobey authority figures and groups based on these primary reasons; individuals will obey malevolent authority as from legitimate figure, decision making are often influenced by groups and unceasing quest for achievement causes humanity to have a hard time disobeying any legitimate authorities or groups given the fact that we are acting on self-deception in order to satisfy our inner ego, groups and with structural laws given to us as the correct way to obey.
Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth distinctly exemplify the weighty pull that power holds over those with authority. For, once prompted, both craving power, chose corruption in order to obtain and preserve stolen power. Power proved to be so addictive to the two that they remain consumed by darkness and take great and murderous measures to insure their security on the throne. Once the darkness accomplished its end of engrossing the king and queen and leads its victims to their own demise. Demise set in motion by their prompted corruption. The theme of the power of power aptly stated by Lord Dalberg-Acton, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Many people who have power and authority have the ability to have a strong influence over the behavior of others. They show great dominance over them, and have a lot of say in their actions. And many characters demonstrate this in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. The novel stresses us to view the advantage power has in its characters’ actions and
American author, John Steinbeck once said, “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts - perhaps the fear of loss of power”. As seen in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, people of authority can feel pressured to go along with actions or make decisions they know are wrong because they fear losing their power and influence in society. They also tend to let to their opinions and motives impact their work and responsibility to make good decisions. The Crucible demonstrates how people of authority, like Parris and Danforth, try to use good judgement to make fair decisions, but are often influenced by their own personal opinions whether they realize it or not.
There are numerous examples of how Miller presents and develops the theme of power and authority, but it only unveils itself gradually through the play, due to each character’s hidden physical attitudes. Firstly there is the religious authority, with the work of god that presides over the lives of the villagers. Next we soon come across the court’s legal authority that is run by Danforth who consumes most of the court’s say in every matter, but they still abide and depend on the strict Puritan’s religious authority. Then there is abusive empowerment that Ab...
Power is earned, not given. There are many different types of power that people can earn. Power becomes a problem when it is not questioned or tested. Therefore, the one with the power would have total control over anything or anyone they wanted, or they would feel that way. People with power feel invincible when it is not questioned. Throughout history it has been proven that this creates a problem. For example, Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal is similar to the scandal with Father Flynn in Doubt. Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley, exemplifies an underlying message that unquestioned faith leads to abuse of power. Specifically, shown in Father Flynn’s reputation, cover up, and resignation, which all correlate to Richard Nixon’s Watergate Scandal.
Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, once stated; “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. This declaration argues that the true test of a person’s morals derives from when said person is given a position of relative power, whether it be power presiding over a nation, or simply power within a relationship. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly, when a person is in a state of submission their actions are regulated and the person may not reflect the values that they actually hold. However, when a person is given power that allows them have control over others, their true ideologies arise. Furthermore, this is supported in literary works throughout history. Specifically,
Friedrich Nietzsche once provided one of the truest opinions on power that the world has ever heard when he said, “All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth”. The promises and truths that those who gain power spread to their people are not always for the greater good. The worst leaders of people are the ones that put more effort and thought into jerking off their own ego rather than putting any real heartfelt effort into helping their people. These sociopathic evil dictators use their power to try and brainwash the minds of people who have to live under them with their own beliefs and hidden agendas, foolishly believing that they are a “savior”. There has yet to be a situation with a leader of a community who has this type of unchecked power and influence with a happy ending. Perhaps the greatest story ever written about good vs. evil, madness, abuse of power along with influence, and nature just might be Heart of Darkness. Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad tells the story of an agent named Marlow, who experiences hellish conditions and behaviors whilst trying to rescue a man named Kurtz, who turns out to be quite a handful. Throughout this journey the moral ramifications of both Kurtz and Marlow’s actions are left to be interpreted by the audience after Kurtz goes mad and becomes the catalyst of the events that transpire throughout the plot. Conrad uses his real life events along with themes of greed, power, and obsession to show what causes Kurtz who acts a symbol for the leaders of the real world to go mad and abuse power.
...e the authority of the very thing that gave them their power. In other words, don’t bite the hand that feeds.
When somebody abuses a great amount of power, that individual can lose all their power. The struggle against someone who abuses power is perfectly depicted in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey. When someone abuses their power, they can impose certain feelings and actions onto others. If someone tries to conceal their personality, . Finally, if someone abuses power and is constantly challenged by another individual who is trying to take the power abuser’s power away from them, the power abuser will always be frightened of his or her challenger. When someone abuses power and takes full control, they can lose all their power and respect quickly.
The desire for power and authority has always been a part of the human nature. Today’s society most often use power to dominate one another and fulfill one’s personal intentions, which can affect other people in many ways. Having power and authority is truly gratifying but it is terrifying if abused and used for selfish acts. The play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller is an example to illustrate the consequences of abuse of power. The characters Abigail Williams, Deputy Governor Danforth and Reverend Parris use their power over society by manipulating people and using their authority to fulfill their personal intentions, like material gain, vengeance, maintaining social status and reputation, and attention, which eventually lead into a mass hysteria.
Often, too much power can go to that particular person’s head, and he/she can become corrupt. As readers have seen in literature, abuses of power are often harmful to the abuser and their subjects. Corrupted authority and abuses of power eventually lead to the collapse of society. This concept is shown many times throughout the novel Lord Of the Flies and the short story “I Only Came to Use the Phone”. Displayed through characters and actions, abusive power has dominated what should be morally correct in literature.
From the day she was born, Lyra’s parents have been trying to protect her from Dust and its influence in the society they live in. Both of the scholars believe that Dust causes lasting detrimental effects on children which account for the settling of a Daemon. Mrs. Coulter thinks that by removing daemon completely, the effects of maturing will prevent children from collecting Dust which symbolizes sin. After completing her journey and learning about Dust on her own terms, Lyra disagrees with her parent’s ideas and thinks that by taking away a natural cause, the effects will reverse, leaving children in danger of never becoming their own person. After completing their true journey about discovering the truth, Lyra is forming her own beliefs that counter her parents. Lyra has overcome her parent’s attempt to thwart her learning, showing that she has successfully completed her
C. Wright Mills in his article “ The Structure of Power in American Society” writes that when considering the types of power that exist in modern society there are three main types which are authority, manipulation and coercion. Coercion can be seen as the “last resort” of enforcing power. On the other hand, authority is power that is derived from voluntary action and manipulation is power that is derived unbeknownst to the people who are under that power.