Preview

It Is The Encounter With Conflict Which Brings Out The Courage Or Cowardice In A Person

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
829 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
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

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    “Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.” Tom Krause…

    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the tests of time men and women across the world have shown they really are in times of conflict. In times where the true character of a person is really put to the limit, people are able to see who they really are. These conflicts can serve to reveal unexpected qualities in an individual. Times of conflict can suddenly expose a person’s true moral fibre and the courage of their convictions. A number of people may shy away from their personal qualities, and do their best not to big note themselves, however for some, in times of strong divergence between people or even countries, a persons ability to reason with their counterpart and show elements of compromise and understanding can all of a sudden come to the fore. Conflict can inadvertently result in the discovery of a person’s true beliefs, and their ability to express them with no fear of their opposition’s retaliation. The quality to stand up for what you believe in can reveal itself in these times of disagreement, just like when Martin Luther proclaimed that he ‘Had a Dream’, he went against the grain of society and discovered his enormous will and determination to rise up for what he stands for. However these qualities are not always positive ones, and can emerge from the most brutal of circumstances. The willingness to take a fellow humans life is especially evident in times of war and terror, revealing vicious and unruly qualities in some individuals. The late Osama bin Laden has been notorious for displaying these qualities, perplexing the world at the extent of his inhumane behaviour in instances of…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During a lifetime, most people are put in a situation where they can either help someone who needs them or they can be willfully blind and not do the right thing for convenience’s sake. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, bravery is a quality that is shown by many of the main characters. These characters use bravery to guard the things in their lives that are important to them even if their physical wellbeing is harmed, they still stand up for the things they believe they should protect. This paper examines how throughout the novel, all the characters are at some point faced with this difficult decision – whether to ignore the situation or to do the right thing – with differing results.…

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Bravery and Cowardness

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The two characters from the book “Rikki-tikki-tavi” that I will be comparing are Rikki and Chuchundra. Chuchundra and Rikki are most obviously the opposites of each other, so here are the differences. Chuchu is very cowardly, while Rikki is quite brave but Chuchu is very sharp in things like the two cobras Nag and Nagaina. Chuchu likes to stay out of things that may cost his life, he is very wise to do that but Rikki is a very curious mongoose so he goes sniffing around for danger. In one point of the story Chuchu helps Rikki by telling Rikki that “Cannot you hear Rikki-tikki” “a noise as faint as that of a wasp on a window-pane, -- the dry scratch of a snake’s scales on brick-work. “That is Nag or Nagaina” he said to himself”. Chuchundra actually help save the man and his family.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” (116)…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Four Types Of Courage

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In this world people believe that courage is standing up to something. But there is more than one kind of courage. If you think about it, we see many different kinds of courage each day. Courage falls under four main physical, social, moral, and creative categories. In this essay I will explain to you the four kinds of courage and what they mean. I will give examples and how they relate to the type that I will be explaining..…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Four Types of Courage

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When asking many people if they know what courage is. Most respond with naming a television actor or comic book hero. Others choose real-life heroes, often those who confront great physical danger such as policemen, firefighters, and soldiers. As a result of our culture, we view courage as a batman fighting joker situation. I’ve learned that courage is not an emotion among others, but the foundation on which all other virtues and values rest. Therefore, courage is divided into four types-physical, social, moral, and creative.…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What is courage? Is courage somebody charging headlong into a fight to save someone? Is courage standing up for one's beliefs in front of one's peers? Or is courage a different entity altogether? Harper Lee explores the theme of courage in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" through the actions of Mrs. Dubose, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley.…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emotional Courage

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The current dictionary definitions of courage are inadequate because they only include references to physical courage and omit instances of inner strength. Three contemporary dictionaries agree closely on the definition although they differ in the order of importance. Webster’s New World Dictionary describes courage as “an attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult or painful, instead of withdrawing from it,” and The American Heritage Dictionary gives a similar explanation. While The Shorter Oxford Dictionary concurs with this meaning, it states that the primary definition is “spirit, mind, or disposition.”…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Definition Of Courage

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Look! There in the corner! That is the biggest spider ever! Who will have the courage to go and shoo it away? Courage is the ability to find the strength to do something one is afraid to do. Courage is bravery, it's valor, its gallantry. Courage means you have “guts”; when one has courage they are strong-willed, opinionated, they stand up for themselves and others.…

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first reason why courage is key is because it saves lives. Not only it saves lives of the person surviving, but it saves his or her peers also in the dangerous situation. For example in the story The Seventh Man Two children witness a horrible typhoon which put him in a dangerous situation. The kids were playing by the beach when one of the kids saw the storm coming. Instead of informing his friend that the typhoon was about to hit them he runs away and his friend sadly dies from the giant wave. “Instead of helping him I found myself running away from him.” this is was the kids words that he wrote in the story. Courage could have saved that kid, but fear took control of the friend that should have saved him.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Definition of Courage

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout each and every day, the courage of many people is tested in various ways. Whether it is a firefighter risking his life for others, an acrophobic going skydiving, or someone simply making friends with a stranger. To me courage is being able to control your emotions and do what is needed to be done, despite any danger or risks. The textbook definition of courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery. However, courage is not simply having the will to do something you do not have to do, it is much more than that.…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Importance Of Courage

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Many people want to have courage; maybe because courage is an asset of survival during the toughest times like the Holocaust. According to Dictionary.com, courage is, “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.; bravery” (Dictionary.com). Having courage means that you are able to conquer your fears and do something knowing the consequences. The Holocaust was a tough time period for millions of Jews; during which there rights and freedom were taken away. The Jews were stripped of everything leaving them with nothing: no hope, no faith, and no idea for freedom. The only thing that kept very few Jews alive was courage. They tried to fight back, they tried to protect their family, and they tried even harder to survive. All the Jews needed courage because with courage comes character and a chance to keep fighting. The most famous type of courage that is depicted in the…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An Essay on Courage

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In this essay I will consider the social, economic and political factors of courage. Many an afternoon has been enjoyed by a family, bonding over the discussion of courage. While much has been written on its influence on contemporary living, it is important to remember that ‘what goes up must come down.’ Often it is seen as both a help and a hinderence to those politicaly minded individuals living in the past, many of whom fail to comprehend the full scope of courage. At the heart of the subject are a number of key factors. I plan to examine each of these factors in detail and and asses their importance.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Good Life

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages

    -so a courageous person, for instance is one who chooses, as a matter of habit, between the extremes of too much fear and not enough…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays