Powerlessness Essays

  • Myth of Powerlessness

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    Linda McQuaig's book, The Cult of Impotence: Selling the Myth of Powerlessness in the Global Economy, is a refreshing new approach to viewing the current state of global economy and Canada’s place in it. In recent years, such mysterious terms as fiscal deficits, natural rate of unemployment, stock market fluctuations, interest rate cuts and zero inflation and so on, have received an exceptional level of public consideration. Nevertheless, in spite of the now generally acceptable importance of the

  • Power and Powerlessness of Individuals in ‘Brighton Rock and ‘The Third Man by Graham Greene

    1422 Words  | 3 Pages

    Power and Powerlessness of Individuals in ‘Brighton Rock and ‘The Third Man by Graham Greene The "Third Man" and "Brighton Rock" are texts that share similar characteristics in the sense that there are three central characters in both storylines. The characters can also be matched between the texts. Pinkie Brown is similar to Harry Lime, Holly Martins is similar to Ida Arnold and Rose is similar to Anna. The relationships between the characters are also similar. The characters of Pinkie/Harry

  • Luke's Three Dimensions of Power

    4687 Words  | 10 Pages

    Luke's Three Dimensions of Power "Power serves to create power. Powerlessness serves to re-enforce powerlessness"(Gaventa,1980:256). Such is the essence of the on going relationship between the Powerful and the Powerless of the Appalachian Valley where acquiescence of the repressed has become not only common practice but a way of life and a means of survival. In his novel Power and Powerlessness, John Gaventa examines the oppressive and desperate situation of the Appalachian coal miners

  • Augustines God Vs. Epictetus God

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    the essence of all truth. Both philosophers address man's powerlessness in the face of God. Epictetus asserted that humans are basically limited and irrational beings, but that the universe, ruled by God through pure reason, is perfect. Because human beings can neither know nor control their destiny, they must cease striving for the attainment of worldly ends and pleasures and instead calmly accept the fact of their own powerlessness before fate. The only thing in a person's power is their response

  • Comparing Power and Freedom in Invisible Man and Notes From Underground

    3290 Words  | 7 Pages

    protagonist, heightened awareness of their human condition onsets a retreat underground to compile notes on the nature of power and freedom.  Both conclude that freedom arises as a result of self-awareness and of ability to both recognize and accept a powerlessness of self amidst oppressive societal power. Invisible Man's first major encounter ... ... middle of paper ... ...on.html Bakhtin, Mikhail. Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics. Ed. and trans. Caryl Emerson. Introd. by Wayne C. Booth. Theory

  • Black Boy1

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    only a few times, but I felt that I had known him through his brother (p. 382).” I feel as though I can hear the words just as he did. Richard Wright’s use of quotations is effective in creating an informal tone and expressing his feelings of powerlessness. It is a very effective tool for an empathetic reaction from the reader. Douglass’ use of quotation marks is quite opposite from Wright’s. Screaming and song are only in quotes to place emphasis on the importance of the information he includes

  • Role Playing in Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    implores, "will you be strong enough to be my man?" She seeks reassurance of her man’s strength by inventing roles for them to play just as Catherine and Henry invent roles in order to protect themselves from the discovery of their insignificance and powerlessness in a world indifferent to their well being. Role-playing by Henry and Catherine is their way to escape the realization of human mortality that is unveiled by war. Hemingway utilizes role-playing as a way to explore the strengths and weaknesses

  • Essay on Creon in Sophocles' and Anouilh's Antigone

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    original Creon tried to leave matters with the gods, Anouilh's Creon points toward the State and its will independent of his own. Antigone's fate unfolds in both plays and Creon does not interecede. Although ironically they share a sense of powerlessness, an important distinction can be made at this point. Sophocles' Creon learns from Antigone's death. Her sacrifice acquires meaning. Anouilh's Creon is too busy with matters of state to assess Antigone's death on a personal level. Her sacrifice

  • Violence Against Women In Music

    993 Words  | 2 Pages

    validity of the message. A counter argument might claim that violent messages expressed through music are just a reflection of conditions that already exist. Violence directed towards women is an option that misdirects the causes from where true powerlessness derive... ... middle of paper ... ...ent and sales of its product. Can the same standards of scrutiny be applied to any industry that promotes poor mental health? For the sake of entertainment, we have allowed ourselves to cross the line and

  • Surprising Similarities and Striking Differences

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    wanted to cast some light on the fact that a broken family had a far-reaching effect on a child’s life. Jane Eyre became rebellious and self-isolated in her struggles at Gateshead while Moll Flanders’ childhood foreshadowed her helplessness and powerlessness throughout her life. In fact the two foster homes differed greatly. Gateshead was a hostile place, which cultivated a strong and independent-minded Jane, so that she could overcome various difficulties in her life on her own. Moll Flanders was

  • Alienation in Modern Society

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    looked like a ghost then in the next shot Desmond entered the room shouted at Andy, and the child goes to another room without knowing what he is going to do, and then cuts to the Desmond and Ruth's alienated making love scene. Because of Ruth's powerlessness situation she couldn't sustain anything her self identity became normless, so her bad experiences alienates her. Secondly, at the beginning of the film David describes nightclubs as "glorified brothels", and Ruth ironically introduced herself

  • The Door by E.B. White

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    control, he finally succumbs to his frustrations the only way he can; through a lobotomy, he becomes willing to "meet the soft ground." (3) One way that White draws out his theme is through conflict. The main conflict in this story is powerlessness versus control. The protagonist continuously compares himself with the rats in a maze (like the Skinner box). The rats, which have no control over their environment, are being driven crazy by the Professor, who demands that they "deal with problems

  • Ted Kaczynski, the UNABOMBER - An Ethical Case Study

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    rules…. It is true that some restrictions on our freedom could be eliminated, but GENERALLY SPEAKING the regulation of our lives by large organizations is necessary for the functioning of industrial-technological society. The result is a sense of powerlessness on the part of the average person. It may be, however, that formal regulations will tend increasingly to be replaced by psychological tools that make us want to do what the system requires of us." Evidenc... ... middle of paper ... ...

  • Marx’s Alienation of Labour

    4459 Words  | 9 Pages

    as “the distortion of human nature that is caused by the domination of the worker by the ‘alien will’ of the capitalist” estrangement (Ritzer, p. 55). A key element to his theory of alienation focuses on the individual’s experience of feeling powerlessness when they fail to realize their own human potential, which in turn causes false consciousness. His theory is based upon his dialectics and on the totality of reciprocal relationships to nature and to other individuals within society, which are

  • Comparing The Epic of Gilgamesh and Noah and the Flood

    1059 Words  | 3 Pages

    the Epic of Gilgamesh", as translated by N.K. Sandars, and "Noah and the Flood" from the Book of Genesis, both Gilgamesh and Noah face similar circumstances, but don’t always respond to them the same way. Accepting immortality and the ultimate powerlessness to be in control of death's inevitability is something that both Gilgamesh and Noah encounter. Gilgamesh faces the death of his closest companion, Enkidu, with hopelessness, fear, and anger. "In his bitterness he cried, 'How can I be at peace?

  • Apathy and the Living Dead

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    of apathy. As the world’s leading democratic country, The U.S., prepares to go to the polls, voter turnout is expected to be about 36%. Wouldn’t you call that a wakeup call? What is the cause of apathy? It is often frustration and a sense of powerlessness that causes people to withdraw from life. However, the ultimate cause is their attitude, the way they react to the changing world. Let’s take a look at a specific example. Jan has recently learned that her company has been bought by another

  • Solutions to Poverty

    1333 Words  | 3 Pages

    help prevent poverty. The United States Census Bureau defines poverty as an "economic condition in which people lack sufficient income to obtain basic needs for food, housing, clothing, health services and education." In other words, poverty is powerlessness, a lack of representation and freedom. Poverty is an issue that the world faces everyday. There are two ways to categorize poverty from a sociologist viewpoint. Absolute poverty simply refers to the condition in which one is unable to afford

  • Female Submission in Time of the Temptress

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    Female Submission in Time of the Temptress From the onset, the underlying theme in Violet Winspear's romance novel, Time of the Temptress, is female submission and powerlessness, especially in the sexual tension between Eve Tarrant and Wade O'Mara. Although no explicit sexual relations are allowed in the line of "Harlequin Presents..." romances, the overall tone and interpersonal dynamics of the novel infer a rape motif. Eve is completely at the mercy of Wade to save her from the jungle

  • Powerlessness In The Homeless

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Powerlessness is when people have no control over the events in their lives. This relates to poverty because most individuals suffering from poverty are powerless over their situation. These individuals feel alienated from other groups in society. In 2011, the poverty statistic was that 43 million people were living below the poverty level. The Census Bureau comparing pre-tax cash income against a threshold that is set at three times the cost of a minimum food diet in 1963. Off course this data is

  • Madonna Kolbenschlag's Lost in the Land of Oz

    1743 Words  | 4 Pages

    whole and complete person. Madonna Kolbenschlag discusses how our society is particularly hostile towards women, resulting in an acute feeling of self-loathing, doubt, loneliness, and guilt. Today, women as the orphan feel a complete sense of powerlessness and abandonment, not only by everyone around her but also by God. Instead of suppressing our anxiety, Kolbenschlag advises that we should deal with it and remove the hidden layers of denial. We need to befriend the orphan within us and through