Corruption Of Power Essay - 1142 Words

The body, mind, and soul of an individual are capable of becoming corrupted by power. Power makes one feel as if that person was a God, which is a sign of the corruption in that individual. According to Lord Actin, Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, states that power can make an individual vulnerable to corruption. The second portion of Lord Actin?s quote discusses absolute power corrupting absolutely which implies that absolute power can corrupt an individual as well as the individual?s surroundings. This idea of corruption can be located in fictional novels such as Animal Farm by George Orwell. Animal Farm is a story about animals dictated by a former animal comrade. The dictator in the novel, Napoleon,†¦show more content†¦The absolute power Hussein possessed led to the absolute corruption of Iraq for nearly twenty-four years. During Hussein?s rule, 200,000 people were killed or ?disappeared?. Another major dictator was Adolf Hitler who dictate d and killed countless human beings. Hitler?s philosophy of thinking made him kill retarded, crippled, and disabled children along with homosexuals and Jewish people. The power that Hitler received when he became leader corrupted him and made him kill six million Jews, nearly committing genocide on the Jewish population. The corruption increased, with Hitler?s desired to expand Nazi Germany. In addition, the dictatorship and corruption caused by power is also expressed in fictional stories. Power corrupting individuals also applies to literature and fictional novels. One example of power causing corruption is found in a novel called Animal Farm by George Orwell. Animal Farm is a story about animals ruled and dictated by humans. Eventually, the animals overthrow their human dictator, Mr. Jones, and try to form their own government. After a pig named Napoleon was declared leader, he gained power which caused him to become corrupted. Napoleon dictated the animals and the entire farm throughout the novel. Napoleon considering himself as powerful as God is an example of Napoleon?s level of corruption. One loyal andShow MoreRelatedPower Leads to Corruption1413 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Power makes individuals corrupt† â€Å"Corruption is when people in positions of entrusted power abuse their power for their own personal gains [or to fulfill the agendas of the group they represent]† (Transparency International). Lord Acton, a nineteenth century historian, argued that power is the root cause of corruption. The more power one has, the more corrupt one is likely to become (Biography of Lord Acton.). Although some commentators argue that there is no correlation between power and corruptionRead MoreThe Between Power And Corruption1679 Words   |  7 Pages Power Corrupts Absolutely Kyle Hayes 0923036 Paula Barata University Of Guelph PSYC*1000 Human history has bared witness to more tyrants than it could hope to enumerate. Whether it be despotic monarchs, autocratic dictators, or megalomaniac celebrities, countless figures in positions of power have perpetuated Lord Acton’s famous axiom, â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† (Acton, 1906; Figgis Laurence, 1906). However, is Acton’s aphorism scientifically validRead MoreThe Corruption Of Absolute Power1174 Words   |  5 PagesMatthew Lee Mrs. Wong ENG 3UAA-a 22 July, 2015 The Corruption of Absolute Power People say that there is a major difference between justice and corruption, but where is the fine line between good and evil? Corruption can be interpreted as dishonest conduct by those in power. There are those who believe that corruption is just as long as it is serves a benefit for the common good. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth demonstrates the effects of living in a corrupt society and how the people rebel againstRead MorePower Causes Corruption849 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† - John Acton, 1887. The debate over whether power causes corruption has been an ongoing discussion for hundreds of years. Some might say that the power itself is what corrupts, while others argue that power simply reveals peoples true colors. However, in reality all sides have some truth to them. Power can be a source of corruption when the amount obtained becomes overwhelming, when the person given power doesnt know what do with it or growsRead MoreCorruption of Power - Macbeth1801 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare’s bloody and tragic play Macbeth, written in the seventeenth century, portrays blind ambition, appearances can be deceiving and corruption of power. It follows the reasons behind Macbeth’s downfall. The play analyzes how other outside forces can easily change the path of ones desires and decisions. The witches’ intrusion, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and Macbeth’s dark desires all interfere and manipulate Macbeth’s decisions. He goes from being praised as a noble soldier to a traitor andRead MoreDoes Power Cause Corruption?1312 Words   |  6 Pagesmind of a person and broaden their view on subjects. One of which, is the age old issue of power and corruption. It is said that power corrupts, but actually it s more true that power attracts the corruptible. --David Brin. Does power cause corruption, or does the corrupted attract and gain the power? The truth is t hat it is power that causes corruption. Moreover, it is the idea of power that causes corruption. Humans are intelligent animals, yet they are still just animals. Their behavior is noRead MoreComparison Of Power And Corruption In Macbeth1105 Words   |  5 Pagesabout how power and corruption and how they correspond. Power is authority, respect, dominance, and most of all, power is control. Corruption is evil, profane, impious, impure, and most of all, corruption are wicked. In the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† there are two major characters that gain power, but only one becomes corrupt. The novel is about a group of kids that are stranded on an island. The boys try to form a society on their own and fail to do so. The boys start to fight for power, and one outRead More Corruption and Power in Macbeth Essay754 Words   |  4 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Personal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, and at the same time is able to destroy a person’s nature. In the drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power, will do terrible things to gain authority and power. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The play begins with the characters King Duncan and Malcolm talkingRead MoreCorruption and Power in Macbeth Essay775 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, and at the same time is able to destroy a persons nature. In the drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power, will do terrible things to gain authority and power. The play begins with the characters King Duncan and Malcolm talking about a good and hardy soldier (Act I: ii: 4). Read MoreJulius Caesar: The Corruption Of Power Essay916 Words   |  4 Pages Brutus, Cassius, Caesar, and the other Senators held the power to do things others could not. With this authority came their ability to use poor judgement. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Julius Caesar the theme Power Corrupts is arrayed thoroughly. Murder, treason, and ethical/moral corruption were three prevalent themes that proved the overall topic of Power Corrupts. In Julius Caesar corruption led to dangerous outcomes, such as death. quot;Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar!quot; (Shakespeare