In today's world, extremist beliefs and ideologies are on the rise, often leading to dangerous consequences for individuals and society as a whole. In the memoir Educated by Tara Westover and the article The Menu for Extremist Ideology from Psychology Today, the authors explore the detrimental effects of extremist beliefs and the crucial role education plays in combating them. Through the use of contrasting personal experiences and powerful literary devices such as comparing and allusion techniques, these authors offer valuable insights into the dangers of extremist beliefs and their manipulative ways, as well as the transformative power of education. This essay will examine the similarities and differences in the authors' approaches to this …show more content…
In Educated, Tara Westover uses the phrase "This was what the Mormons had in common with the Catholic priests and the Muslim imams: they all believed that everything could be divided into either the sacred or the profane" (285) to demonstrate that extremist beliefs are not limited to one particular religion or ideology. Similarly, in The Menu for Extremist Ideology, Psychology Today lists examples of violent acts that extremist groups may resort to, such as terrorism, genocide, or war, "Extreme beliefs can fuel hatred, discrimination, and violence. Groups may resort to violent or criminal acts to achieve their goals or to defend their beliefs against those who disagree. For example, extremist groups may resort to terrorism, genocide, or even war to accomplish their objectives." (Psychology Today). The use of allusion by both authors emphasizes the danger of extremist beliefs and the need for education to battle against them. Through allusion, the authors demonstrate that extremist beliefs can be found in many different groups and highlight the importance of education in preventing their negative consequences. This further proved the point of how, without proper education, extremists can quickly manipulate a person into believing untrue