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The Power Of Stetko

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As humans we are naturally predisposed to have a compulsion for power and control. Knowing that you are in charge comes with feelings of authority and influence. Getting to a position of supremacy can be difficult; many use means of assault in order to get the power that they crave. Violence is also widely used as means for revenge and to take back the power that was stolen. Violence in this manner is not only presented in physical form but can also take the form of sexual or verbal assault. Situations that involve any type of violence have been shown to cause lasting harm to the victim. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is becoming a prominent psychological disorder among people who have experienced the affects of volence. Since most sexual …show more content…

He was verbally and physically assaulted by his fellow soldiers, forced to rape and kill in order to protect himself. This situation begs to question whether we can really blame him for crimes he was forced to commit, as he was a victim turned into an aggressor. While reasons can be found to sympathize with Stetko, it can be more difficult to defend the main antagonist in Polanski’s film Death and the Maiden. As we gain insight about the assault in question, Dr. Miranda portrays himself to have a sadistic and arrogant personality. He uses Paulina’s distressing emotions and the doubt of her husband Gerardo against her. Dr. Miranda also tries to convince them both that she is unstable and delusion, though he is the cause of her distress. He often uses Paulina’s emotions to discredit her, making her seem irrational and cause doubt to her accusations. He uses undermines her to further exploit his victim, trying to get her to crack under the immense pressure she is under. He finally confesses to his crime as he is at the edge of his life. Just as Stetko did, he defends himself by saying his peers had encouraged him. Eventually, we could see the reason for his actions had been to gain power. As Dr. Miranda confesses he says, “I realized I didn’t even have to take care of them. I had all the power. I could break anyone. I could make …show more content…

These indications include hyper vigilance, irritability and severe distress when reminded of the traumatic event. These are characteristics that both of the victims display when faced with their antagonists. Though Stetko did not directly victimize Mejra, he was responsible for the rape and murder of her daughter, causing her to seek vengeance. As she contemplates how to get the revenge she wants, she tortures him with physical and verbal assault. By repeatedly referring to him as ‘Stinko’ she works to dehumanize him and make him feel as though he is not worthy to be characterized as a human. Similar to how he had treated his victims. When Paulina has Dr. Miranda in her care, she is visibly distraught just by his presence. She is aware that her husband is not completely on her side, which makes her more anxious. The intimidation and doubt she feels makes her fear that she is in over her head and as Dr. Miranda tries to make his case she begins to doubt herself. Since she had been blindfolded for the entirety of her assault so she cannot be sure of whom her rapist is. Paulina continually replays her assault in her mind, going over every painful detail in order to prove to the men and to herself that she is sure of her accusations. Dr. Miranda uses her rage and other intense emotions to cause her further humiliation in front of her husband. This

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