“Conflict can reveal unexpected qualities in an individual.”
In the realms of conflict, unexpected qualities may rise within an individual. Conflict is the true test of this, and is the true compass by which heroes are measured and judged. One person’s hero might be another person’s villain. Some may act in an extraordinary way to save one’s life even if it leads to their own demise. Conflict often reveals people’s true personalities and qualities. Conflict has been around ever since the start of human kind. It isn’t something that has developed over time, but something that exists in human nature. People respond to conflict they encounter in many different ways, in some scenarios it may reveal hidden qualities in an individual. Their characteristics determine the nature of their response. This causes them to look deep within themselves and question their own qualities, moral fibers and spiritual beliefs.
Times of conflict do change people’s characters; an ordinary person one day can be compelled to act in an unexpected way to save one’s life. Similarly, we witness characters transformed into different beings when investigating Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. It explores how people in a small puritan town in 1692 are driven and divided by conflicts. When witchcraft is declared in Salem, the reactions of the members of this strictly Puritan society differ greatly. Some see the events that take place as a chance for opportunity, a way to garner personal support, an opportunity to play out personal vengeance and also an occasion to show one’s ability and knowledge. Abigail lied fearing the repercussions of the girls’ activities in the woods, or perhaps she lied to extract vengeance on Proctor and his wife. Her extraordinary accusations of witchcraft also made her the centre of attention; a position upon which she may have thrived. Salem’s ruling theocracy forces citizens to deny their consciences and perjure themselves in order to save their own lives. The majority complies, but a few resist. Proctor encountered conflict with the court as his wife was going to be hanged, his actions to choose death over living without pride, which was seen as unexpected by many, led to his own demise. Proctor showed how the heat of a crucible can transform a person. It took extraordinary courage to stand up for the truth when lies were associated with patriotism, loyalty and religious fever.
The Crucible brings out the best and the worst in people. False accusations, the furious attacks on innocent friends and neighbours such as Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse and their hangings, display the worst type of human actions. Where people are not only accused but victimized and tortured. In contrast, the characters of Hale, Rebecca, Giles Corey and John Proctor show the best in human nature. They strive and fight for what is right. Arthur Miller stated that the play is still warning audiences today of what blind panic can do to people. He believed that Salem Interrogations turn out to be merely exact models of Stalin’s Russia, Pinochet’s Chile, Mao’s china and other regimes. The play is not meant to desensitize its audience but to teach to audience how to examine and respond to it ensuring that such unexpected events happen again.
When power and control over others is attained, most would enjoy and prolong this position of authority and some seek to manipulate it. One of the reasons for Arthur Miller writing this play was to challenge the authorities of this time. In the 1950s, Miller experienced conflict with the government led by Senator Joseph McCarthy whose aim was to purge the US of all communists. As McCarthy’s power increased, he gained more control over people and made more demands of them. A parallel can be seen in some of our modern leaders who have abused their power, such as Saddam Hussein and Robert Mugabe. Perhaps some western leaders persecuted and labeled Muslims and wrongly imprisoned terrorist suspects. Characters in The Crucible show that unexpected qualities arise when people are given too much power; Judge Danforth refuses to accept the truth and as a result causes more conflict. His dogmatism and true qualities are revealed when he states ‘confess or you will hang’.
The theme of conflict is explored well in the novel The Kite Runner, as a child Amir was labeled as ‘A boy won’t stand up for himself’ by his father. Therefore throughout his whole child he sought approval of his father, Baba. It is evident that he was partially correct about Amir, as he let Hassan get raped where he could have intervened and stopped the assault. As a result of this he started having nightmares throughout his childhood. Some say Baba’s death freed Amir; he no longer had the necessity to seek approval of his father, which allowed him to move on with his life. His true qualities were revealed when he decided to go back to Afghanistan so save Sohrab, despite his father’s words. One might say Amir’s actions were unexpected as he spent majority of his childhood in fear and was incompetent to stand up for himself let alone placing his life in danger for Sohrab.
In conclusion, we truly see aspects of human qualities being revealed in the when faced with conflict. It causes individuals to open up, revealing their true qualities which bring out the best or the worst in them. The Crucible is an excellent illustration of how unexpected qualities rise within an individual when faced with conflict, some desire to lie and save their own life whilst others such as John Proctor try to fight for justice to an extent which leads to their own demise. The Kite Runner illustrates that people can transform for the greater good in the presence of conflict, revealing their hidden qualities in search of redemption.
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