Partner Macbeth Pre-Discussion(Christian-James, Kaylee)

Partner Macbeth Pre-Discussion (Kaylee, CJ)

Is evil ingrained in human nature? That is, are some people just “born evil,” or is evil caused by circumstance or environment? 

No, evil is not ingrained in Human Nature because it caused by the environment that surrounds a person.  People are not born evil,  if they turn out to be evil then it is caused by the events and environment they grew up in.  For example, if a person grows up in a household with alcoholics or abusive guardians, they may adapt to that environment.  There is a higher chance that they could become an alcoholic or be abusive themselves. Overall, the causes of someone being evil are the experiences that they went through and the environment they had to adapt to. 

Are our lives determined by fate, or by the acts of our free will? 

Our lives are not determined by fate, but by the acts of our free will.  Our free will is the decisions that we make that determine how our lives will turn out. There is no fate that tells us how we will live our lives. For example, Jimmy Butler who was an orphan and homeless kid, changed his lifestyle and worked hard to become and NBA superstar. His free will determined the life that he is living and it wasn't fate. If it was fate, he wouldn't have endured those hardships at a young age. 

Is redemption truly possible? That is, is it possible to commit an act of genuine evil and truly recover from it? 

Yes, it is possible for someone to fully recover from committing an act of genuine evil. No matter how evil the act was, that person could become a changed person and redeem themselves by committing acts of kindness. For example, fathers who abandon their children when they are young and return later have the chance to redeem themselves. Abandoning aa child is an act of pure evil because that leaves the mother with a harsh job of raising that child by herself. Although when that father returns, he redeems himself and helps raise the child he was meant to raise.

Is it possible to admire or respect a person whom you know has committed acts of genuine evil? 

Yes it is possible for someone to admire or respect a person that has committed acts of genuine evil. Even though that person has done something wrong in the past, they can redeem themselves and become an even better person.  For one instance, at a church I once went to, the priest happened to be an ex con.  He explained that although his past was filled with wrongdoings, he was able to respect God and turn his life around.  

Do “the ends justify the means”? That is, if one uses morally evil methods to acquire a goal, is that goal forever tainted or polluted by the actions one has taken to achieve it? 

A goal is forever tainted or polluted if wrongful actions occur in order to achieve it. Although that goal may be achieved, if that person did something wrong, it makes the goal flawed because of the negative actions. For example in Hawaii Five-O, one of the characters needed money to save someone in danger. They didn't have the money that was needed so they robbed a bank which was the act that polluted the goal.  Although they achieved that goal, the actions done to achieve it was contaminated by the unlawful acts.

Macbeth Anticipation Guide

Macbeth Anticipation Guide

Directions: This is an individual assignment. Read the following statements. Write if you agree or disagree.  Write two sentences AND a personal experience to support your thoughts about each statement. There are no right or wrong answers! Post your answers as a post on your own website/blog and title it Macbeth Anticipation Guide.

1.     Behind every great man is a great woman (every great man is supported, guided, helped and even pushed by a great woman).

I agree with this statement because every man has a woman who cares and pushes them.  Whether its a mom, sister, wife or friend a woman will push her man to the full extent.  I believe that my dad is a great man because of his mom who pushed him to fulfill all his goals and dreams as he was growing up.

2.     Witches, demons, and evil spirits actually exist.

I agree with this because although some people oppose this idea, I still believe they are real until proven to be nonexistent.  I was once home alone and heard this frightening noise, but as I checked to see what it was, nothing was there.

3.     Sometimes it is necessary to do something wrong to get what you want.

I agree because although it is wrong, people tend to prioritize themselves despite of what rules may be broken.  I once lied to my parents about doing my chores just so that I could go out.  Although I felt bad for lying and knew it was wrong, I really wanted to go out.

4.     What goes around comes around (karma).

I agree with this statement, because if you wish bad things on others, bad things will happen to you. For example, I went to the beach with my friend and she jokingly said that she hopes one of us gets stung.  Then, 5 minutes later she was stung on her leg.

5.     Human beings are easily tempted by things they want, even if it’s wrong.

I agree because truth be told, majority of the human race are selfish.  They want what they want and although sometimes what it is wrong, they still go for it.  Many incidents occur in parking lots where people will fight over a parking stall because one person was so tempted to take a good parking that they went for it.

6.     If someone feels that the ruler/s of his/her country is destroying the country, that person should try to overthrow the ruler/s.

I disagree because all actions have consequences.  Despite the feelings felt towards a person, they should never try to overthrow a ruler.  In the past, presidents have been assassinated due to a person who hated the way the president ruled.  Because of their actions they were put in jail for the rest of their life.

7.     There are circumstances or events that justify murdering someone.

I disagree with this statement because no matter how hurt or how much pain they inflicted upon you, killing someone is never the answer.  No amount of violence can make up for the suffering they caused on you.  For example,  in law and order a criminal killed this guys wife.  To get revenge, the husband thought killing the killer would satisfy but all he got was a lifetime in jail.

8.     Success is worth any price you have to pay.

I disagree because sometime success is not the key to happiness.  Sometimes happiness is more important than success itself.  Once, my friends dad was offered a job that paid way more but was located on the mainland.  The dad turned it down knowing that although it paid more, it would not make his family happy.

9.     Kings are appointed by God, and they rule as His representatives on Earth.

I disagree with this statement because God does not appoint anyone to rule. God has no say in who rules. Kings are appointed in a different matter. Those reasons being having blood relatives and them taking over the kingship, or if the King is overthrown by an opposer. For example, King Kamehameha had to fight his way to be a king and he didn't even believe in God. This proves that God does not appoint Kings. 

10.  Your astrological forecast (your horoscope) is a good indicator of how your day will go.

I disagree with this statement because although it is suppose to be an accurate representation of your day, it is not always true.  People should not base their future off of readings, but off of their actions.  Once, I read my horoscope and it claimed I was going to become very lucky that day.  It was wrong.

11.  Traitors should be executed.

I disagree with this statement, because even though they are traitors, they are still human.  Instead they should be put in jail where they can suffer for their whole life.  For example, in criminal minds there was an American citizen who wanted to bomb America.  They caught him but instead of execution, he was sentenced to life in prison.  

Night Reflection

    The novel,"Night" written by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, has taught us that in the heat of very negative and dark parts of our lives, we must never lose hope and give up because even though it seems like all is lost, we must live for our families and our beliefs. Throughout the book,  many different obstacles and challenges was given to Elie but he fought through them all and ended up surviving.
     You should continue to have faith in god,  because even though you may not be able to see him his presence is always here.  He constantly watches over us and protects us by guiding us in the right direction.  Although the Jews suffered through the holocaust,  their faith in god never wavered.  In the end, god rewards you for following and believing in him.  Giving you admittance into heaven.  Like the Jews we must always have faith in god to lead us to live the right life.
      Yes, it is possible for redemption.  Although we cannot forget our mistakes in the past, we must use them as lessons to improve ourself.
   

Night Final Exercise

1. THEME THESIS:  When you are faced with death, values are forgotten, and cruelness replaces humanity because in the darkness of the world, it becomes every man for himself.
-"I did not weep and it pained me that I could not weep.  But I had no more tears... I might perhaps found something like--Free at last!"The need to survive was so important Elie felt relieved that his father passed.  As if a burden was being lifted from his shoulders.  This is very inhumane, because most people would be devastated if their parent passed away.  But in the holocaust, many of the sons felt as if their fathers were holding them back.  
-"Without passion, without haste, they slaughtered their prisoners."  (4)
German soldiers did not even think twice about killing their prisoners.  They just killed them because they could.  The SS did not have to explain why they killed the prisoners, they were entitled to do anything to them.  
-"Dozens of starving men fought each other to the death for a few crumbs." (95)
-“Felled to the ground, stunned with blows, the old man cried: ‘Meir. Meir, my boy! Don’t you recognize me? I’m your father...you’re killing your father! I’ve got some bread...for you too...for you too…” (96)One son in the camp believed that he needed the bread and wanted it so bad that he killed his own father to eat it.  Starvation can turn humans to act as if they were wild animals.  
-"Its the end. God is no longer with us."(73)
-"Where is merciful God, where is He?" (64) 
-"...Where is the divine Mercy? Where is God? How can I believe, how could anyone believe, in this merciful God?’ Poor Akiba Drumer...” (73)
When the young child was hung, though many people believed and were very religious before the camp, they now questioned everything.  Questioned all the things they valued in life and wondering where god was at that moment.  
-“Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others. Not even your father. In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone." (110)
In life, Elie Wiesel was taught to value and treat others with respect but being in the camp all he heard was to leave his father and make it on his own.  Many prisoners believed he was dumb staying with his father because his father slowed both of them down.  He loved his father but when he spent months at the camp he started to have thoughts of leaving his father behind.  

2. CHARACTER THESIS: When faced with challenges in life, people give up and quit.  However, in the novel Night by Elie Wiesel he showed that positivity and determination can overcome anything no matter how tough the obstacle.

-"With luck the Russians would be here before evacuation.  Hope revived again." When on the verge of dying from starvation, the prisoners did anything they could to get a few crumbs of bread.  They did not care who they hurt or even if they killed another person as long as they got food for themselves. -“Listen to me, kid. Don’t forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of others. Not even your father. In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone." (110)"My fathers presence was the one thing that stopped me.  I had no right to let myself die."Although there were days Elie wanted to be dead, he knew that he could not leave his father behind which pushed him to stay alive.  He fought past many different obstacles and survived different beatings believing he could take it because his father took much worse.  
-"Don't talk like that father, you need them as much as I do.  We will see each other again this evening"  
-"Wait a bit, Zalman.  We shall all be stopping soon.   We're not going to run like this till the end of the world." (82) 

-"Father, get up from here. Immediately! You're killing yourself." (100)`

Fellow prisoners often talked to Elie about giving up and just taking their own life.  He was often the one to push people to keep going and to keep fighting including his father.   He gave hope to people and tried to remain faithful himself.  

-"But we no longer feared death, in any event not this particular death. Every bomb that hit filled us with joy, gave us renewed confidence.” (60).

-"Don't think, don' stop. Run." (81)

Dialectical journal practice

Critical Stance:  Wiesel chronicles the gradual dehumanization of the prisoners.

1. First, define “dehumanization” the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities
2. Then, describe the behavior of the various prisoners that shows their gradual transformation from their normal behavior as human beings. 
3. Last, describe the behavior of Eliezer, the changes that he notices and his response to them.

1) dehumanization is the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities

2)The prisoners no longer trust anyone and believe that surviving is every man for themselves.  Their once friends and family meant nothing to them anymore.  One son even killed his own father just to get a piece of bread.  


3)One of the most drastic changes that Eliezer notices about himself is that he is no longer affected by violence.  Eliezer saw his father get struck right in front of him and it didn't even phase him.  After that he began to question how much the camp changed him. 

1. Dialectical Journal Entries

1. Find quotations for each of the comments you have made in question #1

"Dozens of starving men fought each other to the death for a few crumbs." (pg. 95)"I now took the interest in anything except my daily plate of soup and my crust of slate bread" (pg.50)"Without passion, without haste, they slaughtered their prisoners."Felled to the ground, stunned with blows, the old man cried: ‘Meir. Meir, my boy! Don’t you recognize me? I’m your father...you’re killing your father! I’ve got some bread...for you too...for you too…” (96)