Moral Ambiguity We generally criticize characters by their actions yet we never seem to pay attention on what pursues their behavior. In a Song of Ice and Fire, Cersei Lannister is principally the morally ambiguous character, in which is displayed through her malicious actions with moral intentions. A fact in which demonstrated through her arrogant personality, desire of protecting her children, and attempt to alter her fate. As a young child, Cersei received a prophecy from a wicked fortune teller named Maggy where she presented her with three prophecies, but out of the three one would affect her entire character. The one main prophecy promised her three children and that they will all die, so this drove Cersei to become an extremely protective mother. Cersei goes to any length no matter the consequences and takes great pain to shield her younger children, Tommen, Myrcella, and Joffrey. ¨Love no one but your children¨ are words spoken by Cersei that showcases that she is loyal to …show more content…
Cersei’s behavior affects those around her similar to a domino effect where it sets off the characteristics of other characters. All her malicious actions causes certain emotions or feelings to countless of people that changes their entire life course, for example, when her youngest son killed himself due to his wife's death by the hands of his own mother. While not all she does has negative consequences seeing that she can help individuals rise from the ashes and restore what’s theirs. For instance in a scene where Cersei tried to degrade a young girl named Sansa she essentially made her become a resilient and fierce woman. The aftermath of her actions develops climaxes, rising action, and conflict that helps shape the novel. It’s safe to say that Cersei’s moral ambiguity sets the course of the plot and constructs the personalities of various
“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." A quote from the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird depicts the hardships of growing up and seeing the world around you being controlled by prejudice and racism. Lee implies that innocence is not seen as the assumption that people are naturally good but is more of a mature perspective gained from facing immorality.
Guy Montag in Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury, not only shows personal responsibility but moral character and inner strength. He shows these particular traits when he stands up for what he believes in and goes against the majority.
An individual's morals are rooted in their personal views which may be contradictory to the principles manifested by society. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, characters living on Himmel Street who neglect Nazi ideology experience love for each other and humanity, thereby living a contented life in harsh conditions. The different types of love which individuals on Himmel Street encounter from refusing to obey societal ideologies and expectations is formed by supporting those in need and developing relationships with those that society has degraded.
In the story of the Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale possesses more guilt and fear than any other character portrayed within this fascinating book by Nathaniel Hawthorne. There are many examples that make this theory evident: by him putting off his confession about his act of passion, it results in a woman being punished and set apart from the rest of civilization, all while dealing with his moral obligations as a pastor and finally comparing him to the other major male character within the story. Even with his abundant knowledge of what is right and wrong, Dimmesdale attempts to rationalize his mistakes and reason to himself throughout the story that what he is doing is best for everyone. Is this a only a sign of just fear or hypocrisy
The theme of hypocrisy is evident throughout The Scarlet Letter, as seen in Hawthorne’s characterization of society, Roger Chillingworth, and most prominently, Arthur Dimmesdale.
Being judgmental is often a trait people possess. Atticus is one such person who does not posses this trait as seen in the fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
To Kill A Mockingbird is a heroic tale of leadership and courage during racial times. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, To, Jem and Scout are unfortunately exposed to a really racist and prejudice society and town. Which ends up causing them to lose a case and really confuse Jem and Scout when they are young. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird it uses characterization to help show a theme which is loss of innocence when people are exposed to surprising and unfair situations.
“Learn to deal with the fact that not everyone is perfect, but everyone deserves respect, honesty, justice and equality, I’m for truth no matter who tells it, I’m for justice no matter who it is for or against” (anonymous)
People often give up everything that have for others, not because they have a lot to give, but because they know what it feels like to have nothing.
A person’s identity is not something that can be removed, It can only change over time. Some people may feel as if they have lost their identity, but they have not lost it. It is only hidden. Many people have different definitions of identity, but there should only be one, universal definition. The definition of identity is the values someone has, and how said person treats others.
Black and white, right and wrong; do decisions that simple and clear even exist? Does a decision ever mean gaining everything without giving anything up? Many characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are forced to make difficult, heart wrenching decisions that have no clear right answer. Harper Lee presents many of these important decisions in To Kill A Mockingbird as ethical dilemmas, or situations that require a choice between two difficult alternatives. Both of these alternatives have unpleasant aspects and question morals and ethics. A person is put in an awkward position, with their mind saying contradicting things. These dilemmas are presented in many different ways. The decisions in the beginning of the book are simple and can be solved quite easily, yet they are symbolic of later decisions. Other dilemmas place adult-like decisions in the lap of a child. One dilemma concerned a man burdened with the strict traditions of the South. Then there are the two biggest dilemmas, Atticus' decision to take the case and Heck Tate's choice between truth and the emotional well being of a man. Lee's ingenious storyline is established by these crucial and mentally arduous choices faced by the characters.
“Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Bronte, is a story of an orphaned girl who was forced to live at Gateshead Hall with her Aunt Reed. Throughout her early appalling childhood, Mrs. Reed accused Jane of being deceitful. "I am not deceitful; If I were I would say I loved you; but I declare I do not love you (30)." The author, Charlotte Bronte, used this barbarous quote to reveal to the reader that, Jane Eyre, denies she was deceitful. Deceitful is the major theme of, “ Jane Eyre,” which results in loneliness and wretchedness to the people being lied to but also to the people persisting the untruths.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 94). This quote, delivered in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, introduces the mockingbird which is incorporated symbolically throughout the novel. The mockingbird, in presenting its gifts of music and beauty, is the symbol of Atticus’s practice of altruism because he believes in society’s responsibility to protect those who are vulnerable and innocent.
Level Headed- It has been a few days since poor Tom’s trial, and I had an encounter with Mr. Ewell today. I was leaving the post office when he approached me. He was really mad and he started cursing at me, he then proceeded to spit on me, and then he threatened to kill me. I just sat there and took it, he needed to get his anger out somehow, so why not let him. I understand why he was angry, who wouldn't be in his situation.
Although there may not be an extremely extensive amount of knowledge about the Empress Dowager Cixi, she is often considered one of the most powerful women in history. She ruled for almost fifty years, maintaining and expanding her own power. During her ‘behind the curtain’ reign, she made all decisions and always had the final say. Though she was very sharp and understood and executed politics well, she was (what some might consider today) corrupt. She was insistent on keeping her power in the Qing dynasty, to the point of (being suspected of) killing others. Though this seems despotic, recent reports say that she was just like any other ruler, and was blamed for events that would also have occurred under any other’s rule. Perhaps the saying she was in the wrong place at the wrong time could be applicable. Why does she get so much blame when many of the other emperors from other dynasties had similar faults (and even larger ones – their whole dynasties fell, Cixi helped perpetuate the Qing dynasty until her death – as tumultuous as it may have been)? One could argue that it was because she did not have the Mandate of Heaven since she was not traditionally supposed to have any power; or, because she was a woman.