It seems that power is inherent to being a human, and being able to control each other is part of the human condition. This presence of power and the ability to control one another has undoubtedly negative and positive effects on mankind. For instance, power can be used to organize people for a common goal or mission, however, whether this is positive or negative is determined by what that goal is. A positive goal would
But first what is Power? When researching Power words such as authority, control, direct, command and influence all appear. These words all support the following statement “Power is the ability to influence and control the behaviour of others.” The problem with power is that it often leads to those in power abusing it. As Lord Acton famously quoted “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
The concept of power is analogous to the deceptive appearance of a rose. Although people are allured to the blossom due its silky petals and crimson color, much like they are attracted to power because of the opportunities it withholds, the blossom also contains thorns, representative of the corruption one can create by abusing their powers. Consequently, it is no surprise that those who hold great power often become corrupt because they utilize their powers for their own selfish desires. There is a great responsibility that is attributed to possessing power, and those who fail to use their influence with good intentions tend to fall victim to their own selfish needs. Meanwhile, powerlessness is far less corruptive than power.
If a person is abusing his power, then that means he has too much power. The book, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, is about a Freshman boy named Jerry who is shaking up his entire school by defying the Vigils, a group of boys who run the school. Brother Leon abuses his power when he hits a student on the cheek, pushes a student up against the wall, gives a student an F on purpose, and spends money that isn't his to spend. Brother Leon is like a snake, he'll play with the mouse until he doesn't need it anymore, then when the mouse isn't looking, he'll go right behind it and eat it.
We see characters taking power for the good of their people in Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies. We see characters take power for themselves in Animal Farm and 1984. Sometimes we see power given, not because a character wants it but because they deserve it or for another reason like in Beowulf and Lord of the Flies. The characters in these stories all had power and desired it in their own ways. Some used their power for good, while others used it for evil.
Power in today’s can be used in many different forms such as to show strength, rank, encouraging others, being an influence, being a leader, and much more. The way you use power in a situation can have a positive or negative impact on an individual, community, country, nation, or even the world. In the short story “Miss Temptation” by Kurt Vonnegut, he describe how power can impact an individual way of thinking of others due to past experiences. Power can anything one allows to have a dominance over their lives. It is the ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Power changes the way people act. Power has a negative effect on others because King Creon became a bad king and Hitler used it to lie and kill people. Power had a negative effect because Creon became a bad king. Creon won’t let Antigone bury her own brother.
Power is the ability to actor do something in a particular way. People who have too much power and abuse it, and turn their power into a negative power. Fear and tyranny are abused by people with power creating a negative effect on society. Leaders with a huge rule of power will abuse their role as a leader by creating a fearful environment.
Everyone, at one point in their lives has wanted power more than anything. Those who do get it have to make the decision whether they want to use it for good or evil. Power can turn a person into something they never dreamed they would become because it starts to take over their lives and people do not know what to do with so much power. There are many examples of power in the play Macbeth and every person that got it used it in very different ways. This caused many changes in people from turning from good to evil or evil to good.
Power/Powerlessness I have chosen the quote “Many people feel they are powerless to do anything effective with their lives. It takes courage to break out of the settled mold, but most find conformity more comfortable. This is why the opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it’s conformity.” by Rollo May
If you give a man or any person power it shows how they really are. Some people might use it to their advantage and some people might use it to help other people who need it. It shows how humble someone can be or how selfish they are. This has happened to me before. I tend to try and motivate my team to do better and to play with all we have.
The quote that I chose was “ Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ~Abraham Lincoln 1)I agree but yet I also disagree. I disagree because it is not only men that want power, some women want it too. I also agree because that is so true, that you can see a real person's character once you give them power.
People have many different reactions when given power. The reaction is usually either one where they use power for a greater good and to guide others in a better situation, or they can misuse the power given and take advantage of the circumstances or others to make themselves feel even more dominant and in command. In the play, Antigone by Sophocles one of the main characters , King Creon, abuses his power to take superiority of others and in an attempt to gain control. The misuse of power is more frequent than the use of power for the favorable, even in many current events.
Yet do I fear thy nature; /It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness… Hie thee hither, /That I may pour my spirits in thine ear” (1.5.14-295. Everyone wants power, it is a common goal that many people strive towards, but many people do not accomplish this goal. Power has many positive and
However, power can also be very dangerous if it is abused. Power can make you become selfish and unaware of who and what you may be destroying in your path to
