Analysis Essay: The Abuse Of Power

Power is the ability to control or influence others, especially socially or politically. We often hear of the horror stories, in which corrupt dictators with too much power kill innocent citizens, eliminate all competition, and hurt others for personal gain. Power itself is not necessarily the bad thing here; it comes as an instinctive need to humans, rooted in the primal purpose of survival (Anchor text). The abuse of power leads to corruption. Power is an unstable force that can have positive or negative outcomes, depending on why it was sought and the attitude of those on the receiving end of the control.
In many religions, man is divided into the physical animal soul and non-physical godly soul. The animal soul is in charge of survival,

hanging on to life no matter morally right or wrong to the godly soul (Anchor text). In humans, survival is much more complex, so a balance between the two inner voices determines how just power is. When an animal kills for food, it is because it is necessary for the survival of it and its family. This can be seen as socialized power - power used to benefit others, a trait important for leaders to have. Leaders are necessary for civilizations to function and socialized power helps those leaders act efficiently to help their people (Source B).
Another type of power is personalized power - using power for personal gain.

When someone’s personalized power dominates socialized, the balance between animal and godly soul is thrown off to favor the animal soul, he or she becomes corrupt (Source B, Anchor text). They only look out for their own good, regardless of how their actions can negatively impact others. An evil person with supreme power can afford to be corrupt because no one can punish them. Because of this, “they focus on their own egocentric desires and [are unable] to see others' perspectives” (Source B). They exploit the helpless people that let them lead, making a selfish, evil system out of their

power.
The people being controlled by those in power also play a key role in how corrupt one becomes.

A leader needs followers; their power would have no purpose if they have no one to influence. Once someone who is power-thirsty gains it, “they cannot be corrupt because the people underneath [them] must have the willingness to allow [them] to remain in that position” (Source B). Power is volatile; its security comes with how much constituents trust their leader. In the song “Viva la Vida”, a lyric states “and I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand” (Source C). The singer realized that his reign was weak; the only thing holding it together was the people. They are the ones directly impacting how much power one can

have.
Power is a sensitive force. When used in the right manner, it can help a society maintain stability and organization. If abused, it leads to corruption that can harm many people. Humans naturally desire power, as it promises more safety and respect, but it must be handled with precaution.