It Is The Encounter With Conflict Which Brings Out The Courage Or Cowardice In A Person
It is the encounter with conflict which brings out the courage or cowardice in a person
“Flight or fight” is an oft-quoted summary of one’s reaction to conflict, whether mental or physical. But it is an instinctive behaviour which words such as “courage” and “cowardice” do little to accurately describe, as these loaded with emotional connotations. We usually regard ‘courage’ as a positive virtue, and ‘cowardice’ as a negative flaw; in these sematic spaces “fighting” is also positive, and “fleeing” negative. Yet such neat division are inadequate to cope with the complicated response to any sophisticated conflict. Literature often explores these complexities. Sometimes fleeing a situation may take much courage as staying to fight it. In other situations, where there is no choice, “courage” takes a new meaning.
There is a lack of applying labels to describe behaviour when encountering conflict. Every quality in a person is must-haves for a balanced human being. However, we need to see that certain qualities are to be used where it is most appropriate. This is displayed illustrated in Kate Grenville’s ‘The Lieutenant’, Rooke is seen in both “flight” and “fight” mode as he confronts his mark through following his conscience in the face of conflict arising over the treatment of coloured peoples. In early colonial Australia, he risked a court martial and hanging to do so. Grenville imagines him being physically unable to continue with his soldier’s duties as she has him say, “I can’t do this” out loud to himself on the night he discovers the real nature of the hunting party. The degree to which his conscience goes on to rule his life’s future work is further imagined by Grenville. In this very personal way, Rooke took his response to conflict to the front line. Likewise, Galileo displays acts of battle and fleeing as he challenges the Catholic authorities over his astronomical discoveries during his entire life. Galileo meets conflict not by will alone but by an even
“Flight or fight” is an oft-quoted summary of one’s reaction to conflict, whether mental or physical. But it is an instinctive behaviour which words such as “courage” and “cowardice” do little to accurately describe, as these loaded with emotional connotations. We usually regard ‘courage’ as a positive virtue, and ‘cowardice’ as a negative flaw; in these sematic spaces “fighting” is also positive, and “fleeing” negative. Yet such neat division are inadequate to cope with the complicated response to any sophisticated conflict. Literature often explores these complexities. Sometimes fleeing a situation may take much courage as staying to fight it. In other situations, where there is no choice, “courage” takes a new meaning.
There is a lack of applying labels to describe behaviour when encountering conflict. Every quality in a person is must-haves for a balanced human being. However, we need to see that certain qualities are to be used where it is most appropriate. This is displayed illustrated in Kate Grenville’s ‘The Lieutenant’, Rooke is seen in both “flight” and “fight” mode as he confronts his mark through following his conscience in the face of conflict arising over the treatment of coloured peoples. In early colonial Australia, he risked a court martial and hanging to do so. Grenville imagines him being physically unable to continue with his soldier’s duties as she has him say, “I can’t do this” out loud to himself on the night he discovers the real nature of the hunting party. The degree to which his conscience goes on to rule his life’s future work is further imagined by Grenville. In this very personal way, Rooke took his response to conflict to the front line. Likewise, Galileo displays acts of battle and fleeing as he challenges the Catholic authorities over his astronomical discoveries during his entire life. Galileo meets conflict not by will alone but by an even