What is evil? What might originally seem evil may not be seen the same way once the facts are presented. What is considered to one person to be evil may not be considered evil to another so how do we decided if the act of evil can in some cases also be considered good?
For example, I was watching the movie, A Time To Kill, not to long ago. It is a story that takes place in Mississippi I think (it was a Southern state). Samuel L. Jackson’s character goes into the court house in front of dozens of people, shots and kills two white guys who had brutally rape and beat his child and then left her for dead. Luck for her she lived but she lost the ability to ever have children. Jackson’s character did not think that the trial would be fair, it was not a white girl who was raped and beaten, just a little black girl. Matthew McConaughey’s character is a lawyer and he defends Jackson through his trial.
Racial prejudice is really what the movie is about and it is seen at its worst. The crime seems less important because it was a black girl and the murder of the two white men more serious because they were white and it was a black man that killed them. McConaughey’s family is harassed and a burning cross is put in his yard because people are so mad that he is defending Jackson. His assistant (Sandra Bullock) is beaten and hung from a tree for helping McConaughey with the trial. But again, how do these people justify there actions. If they see the murder as wrong and evil then how can they justify their action in what they are doing?
My favorite part in the movie, what really made it a great movie for me, was when McConaughey was making his final argument. It was looking like he was going to lose the trial but his closing argument is so great he wins. (If you haven't seen the movie here is the closing argument. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7f-BgDgpmE).
In a town that sees black and white it is very different. Imagining it was your child or the child of a friend makes the situation so much more real. Put yourself in another persons shoes and the situation can seem different. Often times are prejudices and assumptions can make a big difference even though we do not always realize it. Sometimes what may seem evil at first may turn out to the the greatest act of good.
I’ve never seen this movie but I think I’ve heard of it. Or maybe I’m thinking of the one where S.L.J was in a movie with some snakey lady he had chains for. I didn’t see that one either, although I’m sure the trailer can be found pretty quickly on youtube. But you’re right, evil can be changed based on perspective. At the same time, there’s also moments when it’s hard to say that something isn’t evil. Take Leck, from Graceling. Evil? Well, in my eyes yes. Dangerous? Absolutely. Cruel? Without a doubt. He’s the guy whose so nice that you know he’s no good.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I haven’t really seen much of SLJ’s movies so I can’t say much about the one you’re talking about. But those two boys sound- well, okay they aren’t as bad. But they’re bad. What’s okay about raping someone? I don’t know how the movie ends, and what happens to them or SLJ. I hope everything ended well in the movie, and I can’t imagine it not. But then again, I can see outrage from someone, no matter the outcome. Although I kind of think that if the ending didn’t end the way you wanted it to, Katsa would come in ready to kick some booty. ;)
Interesting discussion, but I would like to see a bit more reference to the text that we're reading in class.
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