Week 2: Does Power Corrupt Absolutely?

Do you believe that if you (as you are now) were given a position of power or higher status, you would treat those you knew before as lesser? Does the fact that Thornhill grew up in a harsher environment in which he never felt like he owned anything influence his feeling of superiority, or is it human nature?

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2023 at 7:28 PM

    Great question Andrew! If I compare Thornhill to myself, I do believe he has a much greater right to condescend those of lower status in life since he was once extremely poor and worked his way up in the world. However it is still wrong, especially when he goes so far as to deny Dan a break for water. If I were in such a position, I believe that I would treat the servants with more dignity and respect, but only because I have grown up in a position where I have not experienced crippling poverty and have been taught to treat everyone with respect. Mine is a very different world from the one which Thornhill lives in, and I cannot judge without walking in his shoes.

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