Theodore Dalrymple's The Frivolity Of Evil

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Theodore Dalrymple presents a deep vantage point of human misery in, ‘The Frivolity of Evil’ and dissects his experiences for us in a very pragmatic manner. The article examines various ways ‘evil’ can be found in modern society. Dalrymple’s article allows us a glimpse into the rawness that is humanity, and his observation of the moral decay in the lower class of society. Using medical cases and lifelong experience, Dalrymple’s lessons pulled at the sources of political evil, the befallen state of government welfare, and individualism in precipitating one’s own misery. His recount and observations supply us with answers to the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of human nature. Dalrymple raises several points on mankind’s propensity to spread evil. He recounts the political evil of “…civil war fought between guerrilla groups…” to “…[witnessing] the acme of tyranny” during his travel (1). His point of view supports that human barbarism creates horrendous crimes. The truly vile one, often from tyranny, suppresses the growth of a country and massacres innocent lives as a means to an end. These extreme cases are centered in war-torn countries, most often with a history of disagreement between different beliefs. In his example of the political evil and its …show more content…

Alexis de Tocqueville’s assessment of it maintained that there is a flaw: ‘…in ages of equality, every man seeks for his opinions within himself…in the same ages, all his feelings are turned towards himself alone.’ (Democracy in America). Tocqueville’s warning on democracy and individualism is that it is dangerous to society. In his article, he explains that when a large segment of the population is isolated and indifferent to the welfare of those around them; man would become unwilling and unable to band together to suppress evil. So exclusively do they attend to their own personal affairs (Democracy in

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