Please grade my essay

Screener11221
Sun, 27 Apr 2014 15:50:16 +0000

Assignment : Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?

It is often said that following people in authority is necessary for people to live in society. However,


questioning and challenging people with authority is sometimes necessary for us to raise the quality
of our lives and live without any constraint. This point can be exemplified by examining several
examples from history and literary works.

The Civil Rights Movement lucidly demonstrate the fact that defying the authority can result in the improvement of lives of people. Even after the time when the Emancipation Proclamation was declared, many African Americans were ill-treated. They could not live lives like white Americans because there were too many racists who thought that the African Americans were worthless. Accordingly, some African Americans who did not agree with the ideas of racists gathered in order to launch the movement for their just rights. When people with authority heard about the movement, they dissented against it. However, despite their attempts to frustrate the movement, they could not stop the resolute will of the African Americans. The African Americans prevailed against the authorized people as a result of the continued movement. The success of this Civil Rights Movement enabled African Americans to get their just rights. Therefore, people should be encouraged to challenge to the authority when needed.

The Novel 1984 by George Orwell also evinces an idea that questioning the ideas of people with authority can lead people to free themselves. In the novel, Almost every citizens of the nation are forced to follow the party because they are under surveillance. They do not have any rights to express their emotions toward the party. Winston Smith, the main character in the novel, is the low-ranking member of the ruling party of the nation. However, Winston does not agree with the ideas of the party and decide not to follow what the party tells him to do. Accordingly, Winston seek for his emotional freedom by meeting the woman called Julia, who also questions the decisions of the party. As a result of their continual sharing of their knowledge and ideas, Winston and Julia become the most emotionally free people in the nation. The courageous acts of Winston freed him from the emotional constraints. Hence, following the people with authority does not help people to free themselves; they must take an action.

In sum, I am convinced that the freedom is interrelated with questioning the authority. I admit that in some aspects, challenging the people with authority can worsen the immediate situation. Nevertheless, it is much better for people to challenge and question the wrongness of the people with authority. Nothing in the world would have been changed if people had merely followed others with great power.