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Agitation As An Extreme Emotional Disturbance

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First of all, What is agitation? Agitation is categorized as an extreme emotional disturbance. The marxists believe, “It is like a sharp knife seeking to expose and make raw a glaring contradiction and draw blood around it (Saba 1).” However, even though agitation is considered a knife used to wound, it is never used to kill. There is a point where agitation becomes too much for people to bare, and when used properly agitation should never reach that point. Lee does, in fact, use the weapon well and exposes old wounds before the film even begins. Before the title sequence the audience is reminded of a strategy for healing which ultimately failed. “A 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks Production” flashes across the screen. The idea of “40 acres” was created as a weak attempt to give reparations to former slaves after the civil war. The United States government “tried” to do some damage control, but there could be no absolution for the sins of slavery without repentance. Repentance is to have sincere regret over one’s actions and then to agree not to repeat them. The government in 1861 made no moves to show regret or to stop the perpetuation of racism that had begun with slavery. The lawmakers were not agitated enough to seek resolution; they felt passive towards the situations at hand, and therefore never cared enough to make adequate change. Lee reminds his viewers of the painful atrocity that was the peculiar institution before the script is even read. This lack of good damage

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