preview

Violence In The West Wing

Better Essays
Open Document

In 2017, the minds of Americans are often occupied with thoughts of the ever-growing political divide between democrats and republicans and the influence of the media on their lives. Television networks and studios are uniquely positioned in such a way as to be easily able to modulate and change the political and moral views and values of our country’s citizens. For example, this position can include a news network that focuses on racial issues in anticipation of an upcoming piece of equal rights legislation in Congress, or a TV show about a group of fictional vigilantes that take on crime in their city and happens to secretly but aggressively emphasize the importance of citizens owning guns. To this end, some of this century’s most influential …show more content…

At its core, legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin conjures up this image of seemingly realistic yet optimistic government starting with the show's main character, Josiah Bartlet, the fictional president of the United States as portrayed by Martin Sheen. Sheen eloquently describes Bartlet as a principled and passionate academic turned political operative and statesman who leads his country and staff with idealism, vigor, and compassion that continues to mystify audiences even after being taken off the air. In the second season finale, of The West Wing, “Two Cathedrals,” President Josiah Bartlet is shown berating and questioning G-d (“Two Cathedrals” 00:24:27) in the Washington Cathedral following the sudden death of his beloved secretary and mother figure, Dolores Landingham. Bartlet seems to think that the death of his confidant is just one in a stream of bad things to happen to him recently, (his deputy chief of staff was shot at just last week) (“Two Cathedrals” 00:23:08). He questions G-d motives asking, in Latin, “Haec credam a deo pio?” (Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a holy God?) (“Two Cathedrals” 00:24:20). In a final act of resistance against a G-d that Bartlet believes lets bad things happen to good people, he lights a cigarette, drops it on the cathedral …show more content…

He seeks counsel from a priest to try to explain why, in Underwood’s eyes, Christ seems to be such a weak religious figure. The priest explains that there are only two requirements of a Christian, “Love God. Love each other. Period.” Underwood disagrees and asks to be left alone in the church to “pray.” Spacey’s character addresses a sculpture of Jesus and gruffly disagrees saying, “Love? That’s what you’re selling? Well, I don’t buy it”. He then proceeds to spit on the sculptures face, before accidentally knocking over and smashing the statue. This short but crucial moment in House of Cards seems to perfectly illustrate the divide between Underwood’s public persona, a man who seeks spiritual guidance, and his true self which seeks to inflate his self-centered ego by validating his status as superior to that of even

Get Access