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Theme Investigation How People can use power for good or bad

My theme investigation examines how power is used positively or negatively. I studied a range of texts set in different times and societies, these are: V for Vendetta directed by James McTeigue, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Night by Elie Wiesel, and A Biography of Gandhi. In the cases I studied each character with the power had a main goal, influences and setting, these are what my investigation were based around. The questions I posed were; What was the goal of the powerful character?, What influenced the main characters use of power?, and What was the setting of the main character?

What are the goals of the powerful characters?


In Lord of the Flies, a novel about a group of boys becoming stranded on an island, it is evident from the start Jack Merridew is a cold and bitter person. He has a need to be in charge of the boys on the island, which is first seen at the first assembly. It is suggested that a chief should be appointed to take control, become the leader of all the boys. An election is taken between Jack and his opponent Ralph, who has a democratic and levelheaded way of thinking. Ralph wins and is labeled the chief. Jack becomes angry and begins to despise everyone I should be chief, Im head choir boy. Jacks urge to have ultimate power allows him to create a tribe, where he has full control of the boys within. His goal is to have all the boys on the island in his tribe so he begins to hold feasts, parties and all round fun to entice them to the tribe. His power grows and his new goal turns to killing Ralph in order to become sole chief of the whole island. In Night Hitlers goals are depicted through the character of Elie. It is clear that he has no remorse as he orders the killings of thousands of Jews. Hitlers main goal is to kill off all of the Jews in order to create a superior race. We see that he really hates the Jews by the way he treats them. For example, Elie and his father are crammed into a train carriage with a hundred other people for days on end while they are transported from place to place. Many died as the people, many friends and family, began to turn on each other in order to survive. Hitlers use of power is completely negative but is incredibly strong, every Jew fears him, and every Nazi worships him. V for Vendetta is a movie set in London 2030 and is about a vengeful man, V, plotting to overthrow a totalitarian government because they used him as a test subject in one of there scientific experiments. He lives in a dystopian society ruled by a communist Chancellor Adam Sutler. Chancellor Adam Sutler, is a man of great power and also great evil. He controls the London of 2030 so to keep all the people identical and loyal, You might be able to buy a car or a can of baked beans, but there is only one brand. His goal is to run a city where all are loyal and people who displease or disobey him are dealt with. To keep the Londoners loyal at one point he creates a terrorist attack on his own city killing 100s of people many children, then says that they have dealt with the terrorists and that they are all now safe, creating a false sense of security to the people. In Gandhis biography we learn of an Indian man who lives a life of good after being discriminated upon like other Black Indians. After travelling to South Africa for a business trip he quickly realized that he had entered a hostile and unfriendly country. Barbers wouldnt cut his hair, hotels wouldnt let him in to stay and he was kicked of a coach because a white person wouldnt share it with a black. He began to realize that something had to be done about racism and discrimination not only in South Africa but also in the rest of the world. His goal was to use his recently acquired legal skills to help

the black of South Africa, and later free his own country from the rule of the British Monarchy. I feel that this shows us that small events in our lives should be looked at as possible turning points. Like when Gandhi visited South Africa, or when Jack was placed on the island. In both cases they made decisions to make certain goals, which will affect the lives of many people around them. Gandhi chose to help others when he could of just left, and Jack chose to go against authority when he could have embraced it.

What influenced the main characters use of power?


In Lord of the Flies, Jack is influenced by social and personal needs. In the novel his character optimizes the evil and savagery within all people. This evil is the main influence in the way that he acts. This evil gets greater and greater as his power grows, until eventually he is taken over by it. The savagery slowly grows within him, like all of the boys on the island. This growth of savage is seen vividly by his urge to get pigs, which grows rapidly into an obsession to get blood Kill the beast! Spill his blood! Bash him in! His need to have power over the microcosm is also an influence on his use of power. As he optimizes the evil from the real world, he has a need to over throw all authority rebel against all that is good. In this case it is Ralph, so he deliberately disobeys him, and does what he waits. For example instead of watching the fire he goes out and hunts. The lack of authority on the island also influences the way he uses his power, for example if there was an authoritative figure from the real world on the island he wouldnt try to go against them, but with no one there he sees no consequences. In V for Vendetta the chancellor is like Jack from Lord of the Flies, he goes against the positive of the outer world. The major influence on his power is the way that he discriminates against many different kinds of people. He black bags all people that are black, homosexual or non-Christian. This makes it easy for him to makes large segregations within his city and also send a message, either follow what he wants or be black bagged. The chancellor is also influenced by his need to have complete control over London, just like Jack needs control over the microcosm. In Night, Hitlers influences are similar to that of Adam Sutlers form V for Vendetta. He is completely racist towards the Jews. His discrimination towards them is so great it causes him to begin a mass murdering of the complete race. This is Hitlers main influence but it is incredibly strong as we see through the way he slowly kills the Jews in gas chambers, instead of a quickly killing them. Through Elies eyes we also see that he has no respect for the religion of the Jews, burning them instead of burning them in accordance with religious beliefs. This is shown through the many concentration camps set up, which we see into through the eyes of Elie. In Gandhis biography we see many different influences emerge. The fact the he lived for many years under the social prejudice of the world was one of the main influences to start to change the worlds views. His culture wasnt respected, and when he was in Africa and saw how black Africans were discriminated against it related to his previous times. Also his mother had strong Hindu beliefs that he picked up as he was growing up. The beliefs of Hindu are peaceful and thus were the beliefs of Gandhi. This fact is seen in his need to protest in a non-violent way.

I believe that this shows how certain influences, which can be from childhood, can have profound effects on the way a person uses their power. For example, if Gandhis mother hadnt been so religious when he was growing up and shared the Hindu beliefs he may of started a violent form of retaliation towards those who discriminate, causing a negative use of power. On the other hand, if Hitler had grown up being taught similar values as Gandhi did the thousands of Jews that did may have been saved.

What effect did setting have on the characters?


In Lord of the Flies Jack, along with all the other boys, are on an island away from all other people, they are alone. Jack once lived in a world where there were rules for everything that he did, but here on the island there was nothing to control him. His inner evil thrives on this and gives him no need to act like he did before. With this lack of boundaries Ralph, who symbolizes democracy, begins to set them. But for Jack to stay in the free state, in which he enjoys, he must go against him. In V for Vendetta the setting is important in making the Chancellors power grow. This is because he sees the Londoners falling into line, which makes him fell more powerful. If he werent to see this he would continue I fell, but it may not be as fast to take effect. Also his ability to see first hand the destructive that V begins to cause as he starts to over throw the Government angers him terribly which causes him to abuse his inner circle as a way to let it out. In Night the fact that Hitler couldnt see all of the concentration camps at once could of saved many peoples lives. At Buchenwald, before it is liberated, Elie is in a hospital being treated. If Hitler is trying to kill a race of people I dont believe that he would be happy with people being kept alive. Through Elies eyes we also see that the concentration camps begin to destroy the spirits of all the Jews being held there, which only further helps the cause of Hitler as once a person can no longer, or just wont, work them are killed. With Gandhi growing up in the poor setting of Indian it made him appreciate the world he lives in. It also allows him to sympathize with those around him who live in the conditions he once did, like the slums in South Africa where many have no food or money. He decides that he should help those in such a situation because he doesnt wish anyone to live in such a situation. This made me think about the real importance of the setting. I am sure that many people may take their current location for granted and others cant wait leave, but it could completely change thousands of lives if a powerful person is to be influenced by something there.

Conclusion
In conclusion, many different things can influence the positive and negative use of power. From religion to setting, the influences all play a part in the way a person chooses what to do with the power they have. Some may only have a small effect, like the setting in V for Vendetta but others may have profound effects, like the childhood for Gandhi. People should first understand where the powerful people

have been, and what they have seen before judging their use of power, positive or negative.
Word Count: 1946

Bibliography
V for Vendetta, movie directed by James McTeigue Lord of the Flies, novel by William Golding Night, a self wrote novel by Elie Wiesel Mahatma Gandhi, from the series People Who Have Changed the World by Mike Nicholson

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