<p>Do people truly benefit from hardship and misfortune?</p>
<p>Hardship and misfortune are crucial to develop as a person. Several examples from literary works and history clearly demonstrate that hardship and misfortune help to change a persons character and ideals for the better.</p>
<p>In the novel All the Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren, Jack Burdens realizations are a direct result of the hardship he endures throughout the book. At the start of the book Jack has the ideology that there are no real consequences to any actions. The first major heartbreak Jack endures is when Anne, who Jack is deeply in love with, falls in love and has an affair with Willie Stark, who is Jacks boss. The second major heartbreak Jack endures is the death of his father. As a reporter, Jack digs up a scandal about Judge Irwin in order to force him to do politics as Jacks boss would like. When Jack confronts the judge with the scandal, the judge commits suicide unable to live with a marred reputation. After the suicide Jack comes to know that the Judge was actually his father and that in his will he left Jack all his possessions including a huge mansion. These two major hardships cause Jack to revaluate his ideology and change to the belief that all events have consequences and everything in life happens for a reason. From that point onwards Jack lives his life conservatively instead of brazenly as he had done so before. Therefore, Jacks radical shift in ideology proves that misfortune in ones life can lead to a positive change.</p>
<p>As demonstrated by the exile of King Edward, events that on the surface are blemished by hardship and misfortune can lead to serendipitous benefits for a person. King Edwards brief 5 year reign from 1456-1461 was marked by autocracy and stringent policies. The people of England were subject to torment and fear throughout his reign. In fear of revolution, King Edward imprisoned any high ranking official, who spoke negatively of his policies. Despite all these measures, the people of England broke out in revolution and exiled King Edward to Iceland, which back then was barren. In an autobiography, King Edward called his years of exile a time for deep lament and sorrow for the way he treated his subjects. When King Edward returned to England he devoted his life to improving the welfare of the less fortunate in England, precisely those who he had persecuted during his reign. Hence, King Edwards lament for his actions during his reign proves that the hardship caused by the exile led to the improvement of his ideals and attitude.</p>
<p>After a careful analysis of All the Kings Men and King Edward, one can see that hardship and misfortune are indeed essential in improving a person. Without hardship and misfortune people, such as Jack and King Edward, could not change their ideals and attitude. Lastly, as Winston Churchill once said Misfortune is the seed to a positive change.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>