Throughout history it has been seen that when the system fails, it is time to bring about change. Similarly, in Friedrich Durrenmatt’s “The Visit”, the final scene of judgment is a so called “rightful justice” disguising a horrendous murder and the true nature of humans. In addition to providing a clear cut conclusion to this tragic comedy, this ultimate scene portrays the failures of society’s humane ways along with showing Ill’s acceptance of his actions. In short, this scene not only portrays the downfalls of society, but also shows the image of accepting responsibility, all of which are driven by the fickle nature of the human mind and group pressure.
Most significantly, the concluding judgment scene illustrates the failure of the various institutions of society, which is caused by the fickleness of the human mind. Specifically this is seen by the Mayor, Policeman, School Master, Priest, and Doctor allowing a man to be murdered. The idea of the downfall of all of the societies is seen when Ill tries to approach all of the institutions for help and protection. When all of them reject him, the society has fallen. As explained by the Schoolmaster, if a person like Claire can enter the town and offer money in public to kill any one person, tomorrow somebody else could be the target and the next day someone else, there is no longer order in society and humanity. (77) It is ironic that not one person stood up to this unjust action, even though they knew somewhere inside that this was wrong. In addition, when it was time to save Ill, each one of these heads of their prestigious institutions shunned and portrayed him as the sinner or the criminal. The fickleness of the human mind can be seen when each one of these institution heads p...
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...r cut conclusion, but in fact provides the context for the downfall of society and shows the acceptance of responsibility, which are both a result of the fickle nature of the human mind and group pressure. The downfall of society is scene as the downfall of the society’s institutions and the society’s humane ways. The cause of these is the murder of Ill, which is driven by the fickleness of the human mind caused by the need of money. The illusion of money drove the townsmen’s fickleness of their minds for killing Ill, but the notion of group work blinded the townsmen’s humane ways. This final judgment scene also shows Ill’s acceptance of responsibility of his actions. This is also driven by the fickleness of the human mind and group pressure that influences him to rethink his actions and come to accepting his faults and his willingness to succumb to any punishment.
reflects upon the theme of the novel. As it highlights the fact that if people in the society
In “A Hunger”, “The Penal Colony”, and Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Kafka succeeded in showing his individuals as obsessed with their profession; however their obsession caused their doom because society asks so much from an individual, only so much can be done. However, regardless of that, these individuals choose their work over themselves, and not even bad health or death can stop them. Because society places immures pressure on Kafka’s work obsessed character, they neglect their well-being and cause their own downfall.
Since he cares little for the affairs of the world, claiming they do not mean anything, then justice—a major concern of the world—also means nothing to him. His actions both before and after his decision to kill a man without provocation demonstrate his apathetic view of the world, and his indifference to justice. Therefore Meursault’s search for justice, culminated by the court’s decision to execute him, remains an example to all of the inability of society to instill justice in criminals. Meursault’s perpetual refusal to acquire a sense of morality and emotion instigates skepticism in all who learn of his story of society’s true ability to instill justice in the
The four scenes that best illustrate the theme of selfishness and the realities of a self-centered life, and empathy are the first scene in which Juvencio begged his son to save him, the scene in which Juvencio describes the crime he committed with a total lack of empathy, the scene in which don lupe describes the viciousness with which Juvencio killed his father, and the scene in which don lupe’s son orders that Juvencio be killed. All of these factors add up to a very interesting work of
The thoughtlessness in which Eichmann embodied in the courtroom, along with the normalcy he possesses, aids in the development of the enigmatic structure of the trial. Arendt's battle to find middle-ground between the idea of Eichmann as a common man attempting to fulfill objectives and his connection to the Nazi regime is what defies original theories on evil. The guilt Eichmann carries is clearly much larger than the man himself, especially one so simplistic and thoughtless. Therefore, the evil presented in Eichma...
He first puts forth the two mainstream arguments against capital punishment and then organizedly refutes each standpoint with credible explanations. By illustrating there are “many other jobs that are unpleasant”, he easily indicates the flaw and weakness of first argument asserted by the opposite side without much refutation and statistical evidence. In addition, in order to disprove the second argument, he proposes that death penalty is not established to deter other potential criminals but to relieve. He employs great length of humor, logos and ethos to introduce and exemplify this new concept of “katharsis” which is defined as a health and positive way to “let off steam”. Thus, the act of punishing the murders can be interpreted as “justice is served” in this case instead of “cold-blood killing” and the audiences get the feeling of satisfaction because it is a part of their human nature. In the later discussion, he also mentions that it is extremely cruel and immoral that people are put in the death house just for simply torture. By having both side perspectives, the readers are more convinced and become more acceptable to Mencken’s ideas.
...rs and situations to help explain the societal issues surrounding the time period. The dreadfulness comes from the controversial issues and feelings these characters experience. These characters must overcome these dreadful experiences in order to change what society deems as acceptable in the future.
It shows the need for people to conform to societal expectations to survive and thrive in society. It also shows the consequences of going against those expectations to purse matters of the heart, whether that is helping a condemned man or trying to keep your family from being taken away. Fighting these societal expectations puts a target on these people’s backs, which is why so many people decide to just succumb to these expectations, which is much easier on these
In Republic, Plato presents his view of justice and why it is better to be just rather than unjust. In doing so, Plato tries to develop a parallel between justice in the city and justice in the individual. Justice in the city can be characterized by every citizen performing one’s own social service in the state in which his nature is best adapted. Justice in the soul is each of the three parts of the soul—rational, spirited and appetitive— performing its proper functions and being in harmony with each other. The film Crimes and Misdemeanors provides a perspective unlike that of Plato’s, on the topic of justice. Through the actions of Judah, a crucial character of the film, the idea of being just and unjust is different. Plato’s attempt at drawing a parallel between justice in the city and justice in the soul is flawed as well has his arguments for being just rather than unjust.
...it up to each reader to draw their own conclusions and search their own feelings. At the false climax, the reader was surprised to learn that the quite, well-liked, polite, little convent girl was colored. Now the reader had to evaluate how the forces within their society might have driven such an innocent to commit suicide.
In the novel Things Fall Apart and the play King Lear, both have presented stories of tragic endings. And both stories have presented some degrees of societal changes, societal conditions and personal changes. Both showed that sometimes the forces of societal change and condition, and the personal changes and situations, can affect each other. All four factors are related to each other.
Imagine yourself, dear reader, transported to Shakespearian Verona, a bustling, peaceful city (aside from the occasional death or two), with its obligatory social classes going about agreeably (aside from the occasional brawl or two), and all people happy and successful (aside from the occasional poor wretch or two). The Verona in which Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet takes place in is made sinister by the deadly consequences than ensue from its strict, unbending society. Romeo and Juliet paints a tale about two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose attempts to be together are cruelly thwarted by society. Society’s fixation on honor and disgrace, poverty-creating laws, and austere social roles all have crucial functions in causing the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
context of the piece and the society in which the characters are living in. Everything
...hat causes Dorian to be heartless to his actions toward others, which in essence starts his downward spiral into a life of corruption. The portrait further signifies the deterioration and corruption of an innocent, moral human being. Each time Dorian commits an act that is deemed immoral by society; the image of him in the portrait begins growing older and uglier showing the scars of his evil doing. The portrait acts as not only as a mirror of Dorian’s soul, but as a societal ideal. It represents what society perceives as moral and ethical behavior, therefore giving substance and value to the heinous crimes that Dorian has committed. When Dorian’s actions stray or contrast to what is deemed acceptable in society the portrait punishes Dorian by taking away the two qualities which Dorian holds dearest to him, youth and beauty, thus making him aware of his unscrupulous actions and in the end condemning him to death. Society holds within itself morals and values that must be adhered to. It is these guidelines that attempt to keep our surroundings in safe and prosperous conditions. Not conforming to these principles has strict repercussions, in some cases, such as Dorian Grays, death.
Murder, assault, and other forms of violence are widespread plagues that haunt modern society. In order to combat these relevant issues society has implemented different systems over the years. These systems have moved from a simple mindset to intricate organizations of jurisdiction and law. Violence appears not only in reality but, in novels and literary works alike. Albert Camus’ The Stranger depicts a modern system of justice; however, Sophocles Oedipus Rex portrays a simplistic system of justice. Society implements these to prevent the downfall of the human race. Society protects humanity from its own demise by condemning acts of violence. Acts of violence, weather brought on by anger as illustrated in Oedipus Rex or by environmental influences as demonstrated in The Stranger led to the downfall of society.