Though Out History, Humans Have Consistently Committed

Murder, assault, and other forms of violence are widespread plagues that haunt modern society. In order to combat these relevant issues society has implemented different systems over the years. These systems have moved from a simple mindset to intricate organizations of jurisdiction and law. Violence appears not only in reality but, in novels and literary works alike. Albert Camus’ The Stranger depicts a modern system of justice; however, Sophocles Oedipus Rex portrays a simplistic system of justice. Society implements these to prevent the downfall of the human race. Society protects humanity from its own demise by condemning acts of violence. Acts of violence, weather brought on by anger as illustrated in Oedipus Rex or by environmental

Based on his findings, Zimbardo explains,“There are times when external circumstances can overwhelm us, and we do things we never thought. If you’re not aware that this can happen, you can be seduced by evil. We need inoculations against our own potential for evil. We have to acknowledge it. Then we can change it” (Dreifus 1). It is important to understand the factors that may lead a person to commit acts of evil, but still hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. Because of the lack of individuality among prisoners and absence of supervision of the guards, ordinary men became perpetrators of evil in the Holocaust and Stanford Prison Experiment.

The inherent violence present within mankind has been a reoccurring theme of literature, artwork, and other media for thousands of years. Human nature has roots embedded within macabre expression, whether through action or depiction, and makes human savagery commonplace in past and present society. Many artists, writers, and poets appeal to or offer commentary to society – as in The Third of May, “The Lottery,” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find” – through an implementation of real-world violence in their works. As an intended or unintended consequence, the very essence of barbarism is glorified in a manner that is not easily extirpated. This dishonesty in justifying war and violence plagues society, and offers little benefit to mankind; rather,

Sandy Hook, Orlando Nightclub, Las Vegas Strip — these lurid words immediately insert negative images into our minds. Not only does the world question why humans would perform such actions, but also how humanity is even capable of committing measures that abuse the innocent. Although some argue that mankind’s tendencies are naturally good, the nature of evil empowers humans to effortlessly opt for wrongdoings. Natural depravity expedites evil actions, and mystery entices the possible outcomes of wrongdoing. Along with natural depravity and mystery, the desire for power and self-indulgence influences sinful actions furthermore. Because human nature strides in harmony with evil, it is impossible to unconsciously desire moral solutions.

“I don’t want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!” Anne Frank had wrote while hiding for her life during the Holocaust. Throughout time, mankind has chosen to be evil. The three things that prove mankind chooses to be evil are the cruelty of the Holocaust, the inhumanity of Eugenics, and the treatment in the Japanese Internment Camps.

Even the most innocent people have something dark inside them and are capable of being evil. This is present in Lord of The Flies by William Golding when a group of boys who were once innocent quickly turn savage as they lose their instinct of civilization. Similarly, in the short story “Toys of Peace” by Saki, the attempt of turning the two boys away from their violent nature fail as they are left alone and resort back to their brutal ways. Through the actions and thoughts of the characters, Golding and Saki demonstrate that humans have a natural tendency towards violence because of their innate evil.

Human tendency is to slip towards inhumanity; as our instinctual emotions are rage, hatred and evil. In “The Lord of the

The human propensity for violence and revenge captivate, yet baffle audiences of literature. This animalistic trait interwoven with human behavior is an ancient one and has survived the test of time, despite our societal developments; wherein the need for survival and constant violence has sharply declined. However, this intricacy of human nature remains and with it suffering brought on by a never ending cycle violence that is only perpetuated by more violence. Not only that, but what we call “evil” also continues to intrigue audiences and social scientists alike. This inescapable drawback of human nature plays a large role in violence in human behavior, therefore to best analyze why human behavior is prone to violence, evil must also be touched

Throughout all of human history, many influential beings have exploited varying forms of human nature’s prominence, as well as its true darkness. There have been many cases to humans acting out of pure righteousness by standing by and supporting their true and sincere morals, whereas others have revealed the deep evil within us through acts of brutality, savagery, or manipulation. Percy Bysshe Shelley one wrote, “Power, like a desolating pestilence, Pollutes whate’er it touches”. This quote expresses Shelley’s opinion that power does not come without corruption. I support Shelley’s assertion because her belief can be proven not only through examples from the book, “A Tale of Two Cities”, but can also be found in historical event, as well as human nature in general.

Following the booming success of the early twentieth century was met with an alarming rate of atrocities that took the lives any innocent people worldwide. The prompting of these casualties found its home in erosion of moral identity seen through the weakening of psychological tendencies that resulted in humane actions which composed one’s moral identity. The gradual erosion of moral identities lead to people being resocialized to adopt psychological tendencies to wage war against those who existed outside of their social group. However, the erosion of the moral identity can be counteracted through a moral breakthrough a person could possibly have once recognizing the inhumanity of their action or through the use of moral imagination on a societal

““A mother jumps down with her baby and calmly looks into a pointing gun-barrel – a moment later we hear the guard who shot them boast to his fellows that he managed to ‘do’ them both with one shot through both their heads.” Historical events speak to the evil that exists in humanity, and even in every individual. Evil-doers show no remorse and no sense of empathy towards the ones who are affected for the wrong doing these evil-doers possess.

Throughout the history of humanity, humans have committed inconceivable and unthinkable acts of cruelty towards one another. From the brutal wars during the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, to the modern area of ethnic cleansing and genocide one cannot help but wonder what is the root cause of this evil. Unthinkable numbers of human life has been lost in every corner of the world from the genocides in Armenia and

Colin Wilson says, “The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain.” Throughout the ages mankind always has had disastrous moments throughout history, but does that mean we accept it as a norm? In Violence and Social Orders: A Conceptual Framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History, economic historian Douglass C. North examined that, “all societies must deal with the possibility of violence, and they do so in different ways.” It’s agreeable that violence is the inevitable and that it will happen many times in different historical periods. Although, it does seem that human life can be very repetitive and not everyone was born with a specific purpose, unless, according to

Throughout history we have seen what humans are capable of; the truly unspeakable atrocities that we have justified because we were simply just following orders.

Behavior that displays a severe lack of empathy and consciousness on the doer’s part towards the victims of his actions constitutes evil, as selfish desires stand preeminently over the well being and sufferings of others. Deeds such as undue, physical abuse and rape are intrinsically wicked in that they objectify and exploit individuals, devaluing and dehumanizing, with no regard to the inconceivable cruelty and pain which they inflict. Evil behaviors should be dealt with with considerable attempts towards moral rehabilitation for the one who commits such atrocities to help him realize the scope of his actions and present another chance to walk in the light. That way, repetition of these behaviors is curbed and the person is left with a