Alright firstly this is my second time doing English 3 and 4. I have done it while i was in year 11 and the score i got, wasn't upto my expectation, so I chose to repeat the subject in the hope of achieving more.
This conflict essay as an internal sac has given me 17/20 (an A). However, the exact essay memorised has gotten me a 11/20 on the exam.
Obviously I was absolutely shocked because i was expecting a similar mark for the exam but my result was no where near it.
My question: Is this the proper way to write an Encountering conflict piece, or have I and the rest of my school been mistaught on how to approach this section of the exam. Please share your opinions openly of what I may have done wrong, and also how your ENG teachers are suggesting to approach these essays.
Thank you.
Conflict has only negative effects on Individuals. Discuss.
Any experience of conflict can be a confronting experience for an individual. Whether it is a person’s own individual crisis, a dispute with another person or even a clash between different social groups, the nature of conflict can be a hard experience for any individual. While sorting out such situations, conflict may bring out the worst in people or may be a devastating experience for some, for other the challenge can bring about positive effects and may be looked upon as a learning experience. Conflict that occurs between two people or even a person’s own suffering may stir negative consequences for the individuals involved but also has the ability to discover some positive changes that may benefit the person.
Through experiencing conflict with others it is possible that harm may be brought about. When two individuals experience a clash of ideas, they may feel as that their opinions are being suppressed, their idea’s are not valued, they are not considered to be equal in the relationship or as though they are being disadvantaged. A person who possesses a quiet or timid personality will often feel reluctant to share their point of view and instead will hide their ideas in fear of being overpowered by their partner. On the other hand, others may choose to avoid conflicting conversations with the partners because it may be an easier option or may even be more beneficial to them. While avoiding conflict may seem like a good option at the time, it may not only cause distance in the relationship but may also cause the individuals to become isolated and consumed with their own needs. It could be that Kate Grenville was suggesting such idea’s in her depiction of events that occurred during Australia’s colonial times with her conjured characters, William and Sal Thornhill. William embraces life as a free man, but Sal longs for home. When he buys a 100 – acre parcel, he extracts a promise form Sal to stay only for five years. She believes they will then return to London, but William never takes his part of the bargain seriously. Sal notes each passing day by marking a tree with a knife. “The unspoken between them was that, she was a prisoner marking the days off” and it was unspoken because she did not want William to “feel a sailor”. William avoided the situation at hand so that he could continue in achieving his own personal goals. When dealt with in ineffective ways, unspoken or avoided conflict can cause individuals to become selfish and uncaring towards those close to them.
One source of conflict that existed since the dawn of mankind is the concerns about land ownership. To begin with, Kate Grenville’s informative novel “The Secret River” takes us behind the life of William Thornhill, a London riverboat driver sent to Australia after being convicted of crime. Like many emancipists of that time he also stakes his claim for a large parcel of land, the only problem is the natives – Aborigines – claimed it years before. The Europeans demonstrated remarkable hubris towards the Aborigines, assuming that they have the right of land and shoo-ing the startled natives away. The settlers viewed the Aborigines as “spiders or snakes, not something that could be guarded against”. Europeans desperately wanted that land because they felt they were in power, compared to their homeland where they lived in poverty. The true make up of the Europeans of that time was revealed, when for the first time the Aborigines posed a threat to their existence. It is the hunger of these Europeans desperately wanting land that leads them to resolve conflict and bring about their cruel and inhumane behaviour.
However, through encountering interpersonal conflict some may experience positive effects. The communication of different viewpoints may encourage individuals to recognise what they consider to be important, realise what they are wanting to gain from the relationship or even cause them to learn about the ways in which they think or deal with certain situations. Through open communication and talking about conflict when it arises, couples have the opportunity to share ideas, thoughts and feelings with their partner, often resulting in not only a much more functional relationship but happier individuals who feel as though they are valued by their partner. Through working out issues as a couple, individuals may also become more reassured about their position in the relationship and realise whether or not the relationship is meeting their own personal needs. Perhaps in Arthur Millers reconstruction of the events that occurred during the Salem Witch trials of the 1600’s he was trying to explore the nature of conflict in relationships through his fictitious characters John and Elizabeth Proctor. While John may have been unfaithful to his wife and their relationship dysfunctional, when it really mattered the two were able to share their views and encourage one another to do what they believed in. Despite their own marriage problems, when John and Elizabeth were wrongly accused of witchery, their open conversations with one another allowed them to realise that their name and integrity meant more than their lives. Without the support of one another in their time of crisis, the two may not have been able to remain true to their values. Through experiencing conflict in a relationship, individuals are able to rely on the support of one another and are able to be them true selves.
So too, does Reverend Parris experience personal conflict. Parris as the ‘minister’ of the Salem community, acts only to protect his own position; he shows little affection or concern for Abigail as she starts to exhibit self destructive behaviour. Miller portrays Parris as “self serving” and a “fraudulent” minister. Although at the opening of the play he appears “overcome with sobs” as he prays at his sick daughter bedside, he soon reveals his inner most fear; that his power will be undermined if the congregation learns that “my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathens in the forest”. The conflict that Parris encounters as result of Abigails actions is certainly the key in how it affects the innocent locals of the Salem Community.
Indeed Reverend Hale who initiates these problems also faces inner conflict. At first Reverend Hale is sure about his belief that there are witches and feels that he is carrying out the desires of ‘god vs devil’ himself. Yet as the play progresses and Hale sees all these honest and good people, like the nurse and Proctor being sentenced and executed he too faces an inner conflict. He contemplates whether to do what his sent to do; listen to Danforth, or listen to his own conscience and denounce these proceedings as unjust and wrong. Hale attempting to repent his own sins by trying to make people confess states “prevail upon your husband and confess” and says “...god damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” and tries to convince people to lie. It is surely not why this conflict has taken place but it is the way in which he attempts to resolve this conflict that is more overwhelming.
When one is suffering from their own personal dilemma they may experience pain or loss. An individual may feel as though they are alone, different from others or unusual or like thy do not belong when they express personal conflict which they may be unable to communicate or share with others. When pain, suffering or grieving is disclosed from others, an individual may go into a state of depression or extreme sadness. If a person is unable to share how they feel and what they are thinking they may over think situations, over exaggerate the circumstances and make things worse than they really are or forget about everything else in their life and become consumed with the problems they are facing. When young teenage girls fall pregnant it is probable that they may feel these emotions. Young mothers are often afraid of the unknown or fear ridicule that may come about because of their pregnancy. Through these difficult times teenagers may suppress their feelings, feel alone or feel as though they will never be able to cope. When their feelings are not communicated effectively, horrible consequences may arise with many young woman turning suicide, running away or even unlawful killing of their child in an attempt to escape the reality of the situations they are dealing with. For many, unspoken personal conflict causes disastrous emotional or physiological consequences for an individual.
However conflict may come about or whoever it may involve, there are always opportunities to be recognised in the experience. While the negative consequences of conflict may sound more horrendous and damaging, the positive outcome that may arise are no less important to consider. When dealt with in effective ways, with logical people who are open to new ideas, conflict can be one of the most rewarding and beneficial experiences. If individuals are able to gain so much from disagreement with their partner or when overcoming their own personal crisis, it is quite possible that people who become involved with social conflict can be benefited by their experiences. Conflict has the power to have everlasting effects on any individual, whether positive or negative.
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