Evil is a simple word that we learn at a young age and that we understand is bad. However, our youth and innocence prevents us from knowing the weight the word holds. As our understanding of evil develops, we begin to see evil all around us. Although we hold common societal definitions of evil, each person is bound to view evil slightly different from others. Someone might consider alcoholism evil, while others consider it normal: someone might believe racism is evil, while others believe it is natural. Evil is unique to each individual, how people were raised and what they were exposed to will alter their definition of evil. However, people generally agree that homicide, rape, torture, genocide, and terrorism are all evil. Causing agony or suffering is considered evil. Manipulating the weak or manipulating children, in any way, is considered evil. Despite our societal understanding that these acts are evil and that evil is bad, we witness evil nearly every day. This unconformity, these people knowing what is evil yet still doing the evil, cannot be explained simply.
Perhaps the most evident human trait that
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Pride is another human trait that prompts evil. People too proud to realize that they are a source of evil. Conrad also exposes Marlow, the story teller, as evil. Marlow never physically or verbally harms any other character. Instead, Marlow’s evil comes in the form of pride and silence. It’s clear as Marlow first gets to the outer station and witnesses the cruelty the Africans face that he subconsciously identifies the actions as evil; but he does nothing to stop the inhumanity. Sometimes the degree of evil might be minimal but it’s still there. Evil once lived wherever pain resides. If evil was eradicated from the world we would no longer see pain or suffering. The day when no one is suffering, when no one is in misery or agony, is the day evil will cease to
The reality is that King Leopold’s “charity” resulted in the death of ten million people, which is approximately 50% of Congo’s population(Cleary). The difference in Marlow’s previous perception he learned from European’s justification and the reality he learns in Africa impels Marlow to develop his hatred towards deception. This explains his sentiment towards the
Evil comes in various shapes and sizes. While good is found all over, it is also masked by the evil that overpowers it. Controlled through physical, and verbal manipulation, people are easily tricked into thinking that what is right, is wrong and what is wrong, is right. Whether they are committed to being good, there will always be a moment where evil will darken the bright side of a person 's soul. In the novel The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt, the author portrays the good and evil side of human nature through the main characters to show how susceptible it is to manipulate a person’s mindset to be good or evil.
Humans have the ability to be evil inside them ever since birth; and British Literature is a good analysis on how evil is presented in people’s lives and how people ‘become’ evil, such as how Grendel and Macbeth become evil in their respective stories. There are many theories on why people act evil, including theories from, Hannah Arendt, Elaine Pagal, and Thomas Hobbs. Most of the theories say generally the same thing. Evil is essentially a part of a human’s character and nature, and the evil inside of one can be triggered by a number of things, such as self interest and being influenced to do evil. All the British Literature that was read in this course has contained evil, as evil is an essential part to make a story.
With this in mind, I could connect with two people who also thought about how evil people can be. William Golding and Elie Wiesel wrote books that magnify the circumstances under which people act evil. Wiesel explores the conditions and the uncivil actions of the people in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Golding, too, takes a dive into the human capacity for evil in post-WWII times. Evil is causing harm to others that are unnecessary or over
Not all people have the same definition of evil. Evil can be expressed in many ways. Whether that be describing a person or giving a place a scary setting. Most though, think of evil as a person rather than a place. Those true qualities of evil help show if a person is a human monster.
Should the holocaust be taught in schools today? That question has been in the minds of parents, school officials, and teachers for some time now. Many believe it should be taught, while others say it shouldn’t. The holocaust is the term used for the Murder of Jews since 1993. That event shocked many people at that time, and it continues to shock people today.
People are often scared of monsters when they are young, but once they grow older and mature, they begin to realize that the idea was made up in their heads. However, some people are so set on the theory of there being mythological creatures that they do not think of the possibility of actual people being monsters instead. We like to believe that we live in a world where none of us are sane and our behavior is superb. When in reality, it is the opposite. We do not realize how much hatred, rape, and violence there is in the world.
Since the beginning of the world, everyone has their own point of view on the battle between good and evil. Since these two are opposite behaviors, good and evil must have nothing in common, right? I believe that evil is only evil by the way someone perceives it to be. For example, let 's say a man robbed a woman 's purse ; to that guy who stole the purse, it 's probably the only way to get enough money to stay, but to the woman she just lost the money she had earned. Now to the woman, the man was bad, but to the man, he is just trying to survive.
The reality is that good and evil cannot be divided due to a difference of beliefs. This means that a person may see something as evil that another person see as good.
Whether working with a co-worker, learning with a classmate or hanging out with a friend, the thought of any of them having the potential to be evil does not cross the mind. Everyday people are not typically evil beings, but if people are not evil beings then why do they commit actions like torture, killing and genocide? Could it be that the certain people committing the acts are just monsters deep inside, or could the actions be mere products of circumstance? In his article "The Genocidal Killer in the Mirror", Crispin Sartwell, a journalist and philosopher, advises his audience to take a look at the heinous acts people have committed throughout history as a way to show us how anyone could commit evil acts, including ourselves. Marianne Szegedy-Maszak,
People, for the most part, are inherently good. It is life that makes them evil, people are affected by events, influences, and circumstances. For the most part, there is an explanation for every “evil” person 's behavior. I will focus on the impact that conditions have on people, as well as the cases of inherently evil people. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a perfect example of inherently good people making poor choices and hurting others because of the things that have impacted them.
Although everyone has the capacity to act good, there is also evil within everyone and it is only
This shows why Hobbes believed in the monarchial form of government. Good is considered as morally righteous and evil is moral wrongdoing. I think that humans are inherently evil because they have to make an effort
One normally goes through many experiences which can lead them to do an action that may be considered evil. Doing evil and actually being labeled evil are two different things that can affect an individual's life
Firstly, man is born evil because society shows him to be evil. An example of this is how parents must raise their child to be good. A parent never has to raise their child to do bad things. A young child might draw on the wall and believe that it is art, however the parent will stop the child and tell them that drawing on the wall is a bad thing to do.