The Deadly Side of Power

Power can have the persuasive action in undoing the moral ethics of one’s character. This can be seen throughout history, such as World War II and proven by the actions of Napoleon in the allegory, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. As Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In history what was viewed as a villain or wrong doer is never the same as the perception. A leader does not begin wanting to do wrong, they start with the best intentions, but power is a tricky thing, showcased in Animal Farm as Utopian ideals but with failed practices.

Power is not inherently a bad tool, but it is when it is placed into the wrong hands. When or if it is placed in the wrong hands, it can corrupt the holder. Even if they do not have bad intentions, the power may corrupt them into using it for bad intentions. The quote stated by Machiavelli, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is true because too much power can corrupt an individual’s thoughts and this can be proved through the book One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest written by Ken Kesey, and also the “Stanford Prison Experiment” which was conducted by Philip Zimbardo.

Governments need to have rules, laws and regulations so they have control over the people, but too much control can be oppressive to society. Government control should be equal to the rights of the people; having too much control conflicts with the rights of the people and their life, liberty and happiness. There are arguments to both sides of governing power and it’s effect on society, but one thing is certain, and facts show that an overpowering government can lead to adverse effects on the people. In “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, it is evident that an overpowering government can lead to a lack of freedom and place little to no value on one’s life.

When one is given excessive power it will bring a realm of destruction for everyone around them. While reading Antigone one can conclude. People with power have negative effects on others because they let the power go to their heads.

Power can allow the person in charge to evoke fear to get people to do what they want. Here is an example from the play, Antigone, When King Creon uses fear to get his people to do what he wants. Another example is from the game, Infamous: Second Son, the head of the D.U.P., Augustine uses fear to get people of Seattle to turn in Conduits(people with abnormal abilities (powers) that normal people feared). Power in the wrong hands allows leaders to do whatever they want with no one stopping them. Power in the wrong hands has death in it. Power in the wrong hands also has violence written

A lot of people have proven that power creates a big difference in a society. Individuals can come together and abuse it. Power is what makes people feel superior to others. Power has a negative effect on others because people with power control people and treat those beneath them with contempt.

Modern day power originates from the mind in that we give certain figures power based upon man-made forms of value or worth like money. The definition of power has fluctuated throughout time, and while the past may have emphasized the more violent aspects, today, we have shifted towards a more control based interpretation. Both Michael Foucault and John Berger delve into the idea of power and its functionality. Based on their texts, in our current socio-cultural setting, power is best exploited when the concept behind the power is deindividualized for many purposes, internalized by the people, and integrated throughout society to the point that its origins is mystified.

As evidenced from multiple books, power is something that is easy to abuse. When an individual is given the ability to control the masses, it can be used incorrectly. Power can lead to abusiveness, irresponsibility, and overconfidence.

Leaders or dictators, power can change a ruler's point of view and leave a violent impact on their city's. Power has a negative impact on others because power creates fear. Power is taken advantage of and people with high power misuse it.

Jack Feldman once wrote “Power tends to corrupt in absolute.” For the majority of society this is true, power is too much for most to responsibly manage. Power alone is not a corruptive tool, but it is often used selfishly or to provoke fear and violence.

Thesis: When power resides in the wrong hands, it can cause people to lose humanity.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Power serves no purpose but to be used. Through usage, it becomes a magnifying glass capable of analyzing the psyche of the one in power. Because of the horrendous acts of some of the tainted minds power has unraveled, society often arrives at the maximum: power corrupts. Although there are those in power who chose to use it as a ways of self-interest, it is the mindset of the person that serves as the bases of corruption, not the access to power.

People of power have the ability to protect the weak, enforce a moral code, and contain any outbreaks of anarchy there might be. However, as stated previously, when corrupt individuals rise to power they have the ability to destroy the weak, enforce their own personal agenda, and allow for immoral groups to run amuck. As the past has shown, when these evil men gain any form of power they tend to abuse it. We can all look at the actions of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Kim Jong-Un, and Saddam Hussein, who all in their own way have abused the power given to them by the people. Some by imprisoning their own population, some by allowing millions to die of starvation so they could redirect money towards their own well being or agenda, and some by attempting to single handedly annihilate certain groups of

Power and politics have always been around but seldom openly discussed. Power is learned at an early age through family and schools. Ordinary people such as scholars hesitate to talk about power. It is often equated with force brutality, unethical behavior, manipulation, connivance, and subjugation.