Persuasive Essay: Suu Kyi Quote

“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it,” said the political activist Aung Sang Suu Kyi in her “Freedom from Fear” speech. Power and fear are tools that corrupt those affected by them, either by using them or being used by them. This ideal has been repeated time and time again in literature as well as in current global situations. Conversely, there are also those who repeatedly move against the current of harsh, imposing leaders and make grand acts of heroism, avoiding the corrupted scourge of the powerful. Examples of this mixed concept can be found in The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, “Unchained Memories,” and in modern-day happenings such as the crisis in Darfur.

In The Scarlet Letter, many characters are unmasked to show corrupted sides of themselves. This corruption usually comes from self-inflicted torture, such as Dimmesdale and his need to punish himself secretly while he remains in a position of power and respect in the community and church. Chillingworth lets himself grow steadily more corrupt as well and revels in the power he holds over Dimmesdale. He lets the power and appeal of revenge take over his entire self, fearing any kind of life without that meaning. Chillingworth becomes a man who, finally seeing his own fear behind losing his power, “lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape, which he could not recognize, usurping the place of his own image in a glass. It was one of those moments when a man’s moral aspect is faithfully revealed to his mind’s eye” (132). Chillingworth recognizes his own darkness, but he allows it to consume him without any search ...

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... such as one woman who had to secretly walk to a refugee camp, without food or shelter, to escape with her daughter. She did not allow herself nor her child to be directly abused, though of course the Janjaweed made a tremendous impact on their lives, terrifying them of returning home,

Heroism and cowardice are often linked to strength and fear, as well as morality and power. When power becomes overbearing towards the people affected by it, there is a natural fear reaction, either by those with power, who become afraid of losing what they have, and for others under that power for having it used against them. People who find ways to not allow themselves to become dirtied by their power or that of others create the presence of heroism. People who let themselves become manipulated by that power, or who wield that power immorally, become cowards and display weakness.