Patient Autonomy And Physician Beneficence -Myassignementhelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Patient Autonomy And Physician Beneficence? Answer: Introducation Ethics are the values which guide the actions of the individuals, and are based on the morals of such individual. These morals and values channel the acts undertaken by the people. These ethics translate in the daily lives of people and decide upon the manner in which a person acts. Naturally, these also shape the manner in which the work is done by the individuals (Smith, 2008). When it comes to healthcare, the role of the individuals, in adhering to the ethical values in enhanced. This is because the relationship between the patients and the healthcare professionals is one of trust and care; and due to the dominating position of the healthcare professionals over their patients and the ones related to the patients, it becomes utmost important that the ethics are properly followed. This is particularly due to the patients having certain rights in the kind of treatment they get and the duty of the healthcare professionals to respect the human rights of their patients. One of such righ ts is autonomy, where it is stated that the patients need to have the freedom of deciding upon their lives, which includes the medical treatment they get, and the like. However, a controversial issue in this regard is offered through the concept of paternalism. This concept provides that there should be the right with the healthcare professionals to interfere in the liberty of actions of an individual owing to their welfare, happiness, interests, values, or good (Murgic, et al. 2015). The difference between the two, in terms of healthcare ethics is elucidated below. Along with the clash between the two concepts, the discussion would also highlight the significance of consent and confidentiality in context of healthcare. The overall purpose here is to highlight the key points which are related to healthcare ethics. Consent, or is aptly known as informed consent, in context of healthcare industry, is referred to the permission given by the individual, after they come to know about all of the facts of the case and the possible consequences of undertaking such actions. In doctor-patient relationships, informed consent holds major significance as the patients are required to be given the entire facts of their case and the possible results of their treatment, in order for such patient to given their informed consent to a particular treatment. This allows the patients to analyse all the facts and weigh in the pertinent risks, before they opt for a particular treatment suggested by the healthcare professional (Wear, 2012). This consent is based on the clear understanding, as well as, on the appreciation of factual background, its implications, and the consequences of going forward with the proposed action. Particularly in context of ethics, a proper and informed consent has its roots in the dignity of any individual. This means that the people need to be provided with the adequate reasoning facilities for them to give their consent on the basis of the facts which are relevant to them (Brown, 2011). The concept of consent is based on the basic human rights and on the ethical principle of patient autonomy. The patients have all of the freedom in order to make a decision on what happens to their body and for gathering the relevant information before a surgery, test or procedure is undertaken. A patient cannot be coerced in any manner; the doctors simply have to act as the facilitator of the decision making of the patients. Consent is not only stemmed in ethical principles, but in the legal ones as well. Where the informed consent of the individual is not taken, and the patient is touched by the doctor, it would be treated as battery, which is a physical assault in legal terms, and is also punishable. This makes taking of the consent very crucial in the daily physical examinations. This makes the mutual communication between a patient and doctor instrumental in context of the choice, authorization or permission of the former for acting the latter in a specific manner (Rao, 2008). Another crucial element related to consent is the difference between an implied and express consent. The implied consent, as the name suggests is one which is implied through the conduct of the patient; and the express consent is the one procured expressly from the patient. The difference between the two can be better elucidated through respective examples. When a patient goes in the chamber of the doctor and they express their problems to the doctor, there is an implied consent to the doctor for undertaking the general physical exam and for carrying the routine investigations. However, when it comes to the express consent, the same is needed for intimate examinations. For instance, where an invasive test or a risky procedure is to be undertaken, a specific express consent has to be taken from the patient, which can take form of written consent or oral consent (Snyder and Leffler, 2005). It remains preferable to take written consents in such cases where long term follow up is require d, in addition to the procedure being high risky intervention, surgery or cosmetic procedure. In order to gain the informed consent of the patient, crucial information has to be disclosed which involves the need for further testing, the condition of patient, results of treatment, different available options, possible complications, expected outcome, duration and cost of treatment, and the possible benefits and risks of such treatment (Heywood, Macsakill and Higgins, 2010). The concept of consent is also aligned based on the ECHR, i.e., the European Convention on Human Rights. Under article 3, it is specifically provided that a forced treatment which is given against the wishes of an individual would be deemed as the breach of this article, as this article is related to the inter alia inhumane and degraded treatment (Byrne, 2012). In Ireland, the patient doctor relationship is deemed as a privileged one and is dependent on the trust of the patient in professional conduct of the doctor. This is the reason for issuing a Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics by the Medical Council for the registered medical practitioners (Medical Council, 2018). Another important concept in health ethics is autonomy v paternalism. Patient autonomy is the basic principle in the concept of professional medical ethics. The ability of recognizing and fostering the same has different dimensions and has been considered of vital significance in the clinical competency of the physicians. Beauchamp and Childress (2001) accepted autonomy as amongst one of the four principles of medical ethics, in addition to justice, beneficence and non-malfeasance. As stated in the introductory segment, autonomy is related to the self-determination or the self-rule, where the patient gets to decide on the treatments they get in a free and independent manner (Tai and Tsai, 2003). Paternalism on the other hand, is just the opposite of autonomy, where the doctors are said to act as the moral agent of the patients and make the best decisions for the patients, even when they can make such decisions for themselves. This is stemmed from the fact that the doctors are experts who can easily make the judgments and decisions as they know what has to be paid attention to and what has to be ignored. This brings forth an ethical dilemma for the healthcare professionals, where they have to choose between providing the patients with the requisite autonomy or giving the doctors the paternalistic freedom of choosing what is best for patients (Lepping, Palmstierna and Raveesh, 2016). In medical ethics, it is necessary to give more significance to paternalism in place of autonomy. To prove this, an example is put forth here. A 32 year old pregnant lady went for a vaginal delivery. Before this pregnancy, she had two babies through emergency caesarean section. And the second baby had been born merely one year ago. As a result of this, the doctors wanted the wide to avoid taking any sort of risk and wanted her to deliver the baby through a caesarean section. Both the husband and the wife were attempted to be convinced by the medical staff; however, they did not agree with the same. As a result of this, the patient was sent back home in order for trail of normal labor. After a period of two weeks, she returned to the hospital with very strong pains and when his delivery was taking place the uterus was ruptured. The doctors were able to deliver the baby in a normal manner but the mother had to be transferred to Intensive Care Unit in order to observe her closely. Howev er, she could not be saved and died a few weeks later (Sayani, 2015). This case helps in raising certain good questions. The very crucial one is whether medical paternalism could have saved the life of the patients? And whether in this case the principle of autonomy was justified? This highlights the ethical dilemma where respecting the autonomy of the couple, the women was exposed to complications, which ultimately resulted in her demise. Had the healthcare professionals taken the decision, there would have been a breach of autonomy of the patient. To put emphasis on paternalism, another example can be put forth. This is the case of suicide, particularly in cases of individuals suffering from psychiatric illness. An individual suffering from psychiatric illness, particularly who are at the risk of committing suicide, cannot be given their autonomy. If the autonomy is given to such patients, they would commit suicide. Even though this could be deemed as giving the individuals the freedom of making their own choices, it would not be ethical on part of t he doctor to allow the patient to be given their autonomy when they know this would result in the patient killing themselves. This is where the fight between the two concepts of autonomy and paternalism takes place. This is the situation where the healthcare practitioners face the ethical dilemma of choosing between the two concepts (Ho, 2014). In this regard, when psychotherapy is performed by the psychiatrists, they initially have the tendency of withholding certain information from their patients. An example of this is that they would not tell their patients the psychodynamics which they infer. In place of this, the information is titrated over a course of time. This is to safeguard the patients from getting overwhelmed and from not returning to get the relevant treatment, which is important for them. However, there are psychiatrists who feel that full information should be shared with the patients and that the patients should be given the time to share this information, even when doing so results in greater harm being caused to the patients. In terms of ethics, the reasoning for sharing of information with the patients could be justifiable and even obligatory in context of increasing their autonomy. This is deemed as more important value in general in place of attaining benefit for the patient by withholding such inform ation from them, even when the information may lead to the patient making the choice which is against their best interest. This information shows transparency and gives equality to the patients to level the playing field (Howe, 2008). A very apt question was raised by Kongsholm and Kappel (2017) regarding the consent being based on information or trust. The research conducted by them provided that in case of participants indulged in medical research, they do not rely upon the information provided to them to give their consent, but instead over the trust which they hold in the researching enterprise or the researcher. The Mental Health Act, 2001 puts an obligation on the healthcare professionals to inform the patients properly about the treatment they are getting, in order for them to gain full knowledge on their situation. This consent is required save for such situations where the opinion of the consultant psychiatrist feels that the treatment is required for the safety of the patient and for alleviating their condition, particularly when the patient is incapable of giving their consent. In essence, here the legislation also gives preference to paternalism over and above autonomy. The decision on the capability o f the patient to make decisions for themselves remains contested. This is because it raises questions on the patient being held capable of making the decision, as this is something which is subjective in nature (Donnelly, 2016). Gillick v West Norfolk Wisbeck Area Health Authority [1986] AC 112 presents a landmark decision where a number of complex legal issues regarding the consent of a minor person were raised. In this case, Mrs Gillick had sought and attained contraceptive advice from a local doctor while she was below the age of giving lawful consent to intercourse. This was based on the guidance which had been issued by the relevant Department of Health and Social Security. She sought a declaration from court asking for the guidance of department to be deemed as illegal and an inference with the paternal duties and rights. The House of Lords had to decide on the extent of parental control over their minor child and whether the child could give consent to medical treatment or contraceptive advice against the knowledge of wishes of their parents. The declaration was dismissed by the court. The consent for treatment could only be given when the person could be deemed as intelligent and sufficient enough t o understand what has been proposed (HRCR, 2018). Again, this highlights the subjectivity in making the decision on the person holding the right to given their consent and continues the clash between autonomy and paternalism. Though, it is a victory for advocates of adolescent autonomy (Cave, 2014). However, one should not forget that this was again based on the question of competence, of a person making decision for them, which is the theme of paternalism. Another substantial point in medical ethics is confidentiality. Confidentiality in healthcare field is of utmost importance as the patients share their personal information in a routine manner with the healthcare providers. In such cases where the confidentiality is not maintained, the data of the patients would not be protected and this would result in the trust present in the physician- patient relationship being diminished. This would make the patients less prone to sharing of the information, particularly the materially sensitive one, which would impact the care provided to the patients in a significant manner. Confidentiality is a necessity for creating a trusting environment where the patient privacy is not only respected but is also protected and encouraged, which allows the patients in being honest in their healthcare visits. This also has the capability of increasing the willingness of the patients for seeking care. In cases where the patients have a stigmatizing condition, which is related to psychiatric health concerns, public health, reproductive or sexual health, the confidentiality helps in assuring that the private information is not disclosed to any person, without their consent being given for the same (Fisher, 2013). This is aligned with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, where the privacy of individuals is to be protected (Department of Health, 2018). Confidentiality continues to be a key point which ensures that the patients trust the doctors. The moral basis of it is consequentialist owing to the fact that it is meant to improve the welfare of the patients. In essence, it is required for protecting the confidence of general public and for securing the public health. This ethical principle has been upheld for centuries through a Hippocratic Oath. The reason for the same is that in modern medicine, medical confidentiality is not absolute. And the same can be breached with consent, through law, and in public interest (Blightman, Griffiths and Danbury, 2014). Again, confidentiality not being absolute touches the discussion carried earlier in context of interplay of autonomy v paternalism and consent. Where there are concerns regarding the safety of another person, the medical information of a patient can be made available to a person who would normally not be provided with such information. In doing so, the good of the patient is gi ven supremacy, and the patient is safeguarded from credible threat of harm. Here a good enough reason has to be provided to show that the individual is in serious danger and the medical information is crucial. For instances, in cases of homicidal ideation, a psychotherapist or physician can be made to provide the details of an individual prone to harming others. Again, where there is a requirement by the law to provide the medical information in certain situations, the same has to be done (Bord, 2018). To bring the discussion to its conclusion, the preceding parts carried a discussion on the three most significant aspects which are crucial in the healthcare ethics. These three are consent, a clash between autonomy and paternalism, and confidentiality. The discussion started with discussion on what exactly informed consent is. Informed consent requires the patient to be provided with all the relevant information in order for them to make the choice of going forward with a medical procedure or treatment, or to avoid the same. The above carried discussion highlighted how there is a constant clash between autonomy and paternalism and different examples were given to show the supremacy of paternalism over autonomy. This debate is due to the difference in the two concepts where autonomy provides that the patients should be given the choice of making decisions for them, whilst paternalism shows that the experience and the knowledge of the doctors or the healthcare professionals is enough for them to make the wise choice even on behalf of the patient. Through the example of the pregnant lady, who had to lose her life as a result of autonomy being given preference, the supremacy of paternalism was supported. The last aspect discussed above was the due weight being given to the confidentiality of the patients in order for them to trust the healthcare professionals and for them to disclose everything without having to fear for the information being misused or wrongly distributed. However, even the confidentiality of patients is shown to be conditional. Thus, there are a number of instances where the medical professionals are presented with ethical choices, and where there continues to be clash between what is right and what is wrong, owing to the diversified views of similar issues. References Beauchamp, T., and Childress, J. (2001)Principles of Biomedical Ethic. 5th ed. New York, USA: Oxford University Press. Blightman, K., Griffiths, S.E., and Danbury, C. (2013) Patient confidentiality: when can a breach be justified?. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care Pain, 14(2), pp. 52-56. Bord, J.D. (2018) Confidentiality. [Online] University of Washington School of Medicine. Available from: https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/confiden.html [Accessed on: 17/01/18] Brown, B. (2011) Informed Consent: The U.S. Medical Education System Explained. USA: BookBaby. Byrne, J.V. (2012) Tutorials in Endovascular Neurosurgery and Interventional Neuroradiology. London: Springer. Cave, Emma(2014) Goodbye Gillick? Identifying and resolving problems with the concept of child competence.Legal studies, 34 (1), pp. 103-122. Department of Health. (2018) Data Protection. [Online] Department of Health. Available from: https://health.gov.ie/data-protection/ [Accessed on: 17/01/18] Donnelly, M. (2016) The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015: Implications for Healthcare Decision-Making. Medico-Legal Journal of Ireland, 22(2), pp. 65-77. Fisher, M.A. (2013) The Ethics of Conditional Confidentiality: A Practice Model for Mental Health Professionals. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Heywood, R., Macsakill, A., and Higgins, K. (2010) Informed Consent in Hospital Practice: Health Professionals Perspectives and Legal Reflections. Medical Law Review, 18(2), pp. 152-184. Ho, A.O. (2014) Suicide: Rationality and Responsibility for Life. Can J Psychiatry, 59(3), pp. 141-147. Howe, E. (2008) Beyond Informed Consent: The Ethics of Informing, Anticipating, and Warning. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 5(10), pp. 42-47. HRCR. (2018) Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority and another. [Online] HRCR. Available from: https://www.hrcr.org/safrica/childrens_rights/Gillick_WestNorfolk.htm [Accessed on: 17/01/18] Jones, M. (1999) Informed Consent and Other Fairy Stories. Medical Law Review, 7, pp. 103. Kingsholm, N.C.H., and Kappel, K. (2017) Is Consent Based on Trust Morally Inferior to Consent Based on Information. Bioethics, 31(6), pp. 432-442. Lepping, P., Palmstierna, T., and Raveesh, B.N. (2016) Paternalismv.autonomy are we barking up the wrong tree?. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 209(2), pp. 95-96. Medical Council. (2018) Professional Conduct Ethics. [Online] Medical Council. Available from: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Professional-Conduct-Ethics/ [Accessed on: 17/01/18] Murgic, L., Hbert, P. C., Sovic, S., and Pavlekovic, G. (2015) Paternalism and autonomy: views of patients and providers in a transitional (post-communist) country.BMC medical ethics,16(1), 65. Rao, K.H.S. (2008) Informed Consent: An Ethical Obligation or Legal Compulsion? J Cutan Aesthet Surg, 1(1), pp. 33-35. Sayani, A.H. (2015) Conflict between Paternalism and Autonomy. Journal of Clinical Research Bioethics, 6, pp. 248. Smith, J.D. (2008) Normative Theory and Business Ethics. Plymouth, UK: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. Snyder, L., Leffler, C. (2005) Ethics and Human Rights Committee, American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med., 142(7), pp. 560-82. Tai, M.C., and Tsai, T. (2003) Who Makes the Decision? Patients Autonomy vs Paternalism in a Confucian Society. Public Health, 44(5), pp. 558-561. Wear, S. (2012) Informed Consent: Patient Autonomy and Physician Beneficence within Clinical Medicine. Berlin: Springer Science Business Media.

Warning Signs on Research Paper Research You Should Know About

Warning Signs on Research Paper Research You Should Know About Research Paper Research: No Longer a Mystery Explain briefly the significant points you intend to cover in your paper and why readers ought to be interested in your topic. Usually, you are going to want to start with your science fair project question so the reader will know the aim of your paper. If you must point at a detail that should be corrected (e.g. an introduction that needs to be rewritten or an article that has to be changed) you can always depend on our writers' help. The text within the body can contain as much paragraph or sections as the writer requirements, but just on the status of supporting the idea by answering the questions regarding the topic. Undoubtedly, you're not creating your paper for the overall public, therefore you're permitted to use terminology and complicated words. The format to be used is determined by the topic that you have chosen. It's not quite as easy as writing an essay about your summer vacation, your family members, or the previous party you've been to, as you don't need to do research to figure out about your personal experience. Let's take a better look at every portion of the paper. An individual should adhere to the nine big actions in writing a research paper, or if one's working on a specific step, an individual should click on that special step to jump ahead in the procedure. It is possible to now quit panicking as our paper writers are also there to aid you to finish your assignment in time. The writers ought to have the passion for writing and a remarkably large level of creativity. As a result of their vast knowledge in their various fields, our writers make the whole procedure of research paper writing an entirely effortless endeavor. Our essay paper writer can help you satisfy any deadline however impossible it may appear to you. Correct all errors you may spot and enhance the general grade of the paper to the best of your ability. From us, you'll find expert customized paper writing services. Writing a customized research paper isn't a way easy but you always have the option to seek out strategies to lessen its daunting profile. Our customized paper writing services are incredibly inexpensive and provided at fair prices. The Tried and True Method for Research Paper Research in Step by Step Detail A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge so as to get the best possible info in that area. It is very helpful even in the event the research is quite similar to your own feelings. It is crucial to make sure that your research has no plagiarism and such errors as they could be employed to penalize you. If it's the research or term paper, research is the simple element to have them written down perfect. Your methods for gathering data ought to have a very clear connection to your research issue. Indicate the way the approach fits the total research design. If you'll be conducting your own research, like through a survey or a scientific experiment, you will have to outline the precise process that you intend to use. You would have to present arguments for your research in a very clear and concise way. You will have to conduct interviews or field surveys to think of a great topic for research. The stated research topics may be used among other people to think of interesting research papers. It's difficult for them to find help on how best to write research papers since there aren't many credible sources out there. The Ultimate Strategy to Research Paper Research If you think writing of a research paper is just about gathering relevant materials and copy-pasting then in another document, you're mistaken. Understanding how to compose a research paper thesis is the key step. How to write research papers is a frequently asked question by students and many students are not able to discover good help by using their research papers when they're writing them. Ahead of writing a research paper, an individual can refer to a superior instance of a research paper research. A research paper is a typical type of academic writing. It is a very serious form of academic writing. It is usually the first step for students to get funding for their project, so it is crucial to create a thoughtful and deep paper. It is one of the most frequently assigned papers along with different types of essays.

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Healthcare Issue in 2020 in Kansas Topic PaperHealthcare is going to be a huge issue in this year. The next few years are going to see an explosion of healthcare issues from insurance and other types of coverage, to drugs and other health care related issues.It appears that, after years of frustration with the US health care system, the response from the government to such major reform issues seems to be that it is time to change to a more efficient and cheaper system. Of course, not all areas of the US health care system are involved here but some are.The new Healthcare solution which is coming into play in 2020 is not the true health care system that Americans have been seeking for. It is a system that is not dependent on the free market to allow competition. Instead, it is a 'public option' plan that is being pushed through the healthcare system and will need to have a very strong protection of consumer rights.In order to fix the problems in the US healthcare system, more changes are needed, both in Washington DC and across the country. What needs to happen is to have a true government-based system. This would mean reforms like one that would allow families to purchase health insurance on their own and keep costs down, and better access to care for the elderly and the disabled, and of course a full solution to the cost problem, as there is no reason that everyone should go into debt to get proper medical care.Although, at this point in time, the US health care system is a mess, if you think that it is going to stay that way, then you are clearly not paying attention. There is a massive healthcare market out there that the President knows that he has to compete with and which is seeing a massive increase in business and offers affordable plans.So if you want a new system in place that is going to save money and give consumers choices, consider what may happen in the healthcare field in the next decade. The markets are open for another solution, so look out fo r another Healthcare solution in 2020 in Kansas.Please consider all this and think on it. Good luck.

Understanding the Objective Section of Your Research Paper

Understanding the Objective Section of Your Research PaperIt is important for all students to study the objective section of their research papers. Students often get themselves caught up in the complexities of the subject and do not finish their papers as they should. By studying the objective section of your research paper, you can put the real focus on the results that you want to produce.The objective section should never be any part of your paper that you skip over. The objective section is very important. Without it, your paper would lack much information. To summarize, it is imperative that you complete the objective section of your research paper.This section of the paper provides an outline for the term papers. It also summarizes what your paper covers, if any. So you need to include it in the end because without it, you are left with nothing to say.Your subject and the findings are important parts of your objective section, so make sure you include those in your paper. Whil e you need to go into detail about what you found and how you made the findings, it is important that you include your topic statement in the end so that students understand what the paper is about.The last section that you should discuss in your paper is the results section. This section will help your classmates to see how you produced the data and demonstrate the results of your research, if any.When you take notes in your paper, you need to write out the relevant facts so that your classmates can see the evidence behind the data you used. Using the data to show the students how you made the research findings will help them see how they can use the same methods of research to accomplish their own results.The final section of your paper should provide additional information that will help your classmates understand what they are reading. This is the space to add your own thoughts about the project and how it is being used. It is important that your paper contains all of the inform ation that your classmates will need to understand your project.

Resources to Consult - Broadview Guide to Writing, P.-, C.. APA Style Sample

Resources to Consult - Broadview Guide to Writing, P.-, C.. APA Style SampleBy the time you finish reading this article, you should have several Resources to Consult broadview guide to writing, P.-, C.. APA style sample documents for your use. You will have an abundance of blank sheets that will help you revise and rewrite again.I have a friend who has five professors, including one who is working on a dissertation using V. Care's 'The Character of Man' (The American College Dictionary, v. 993). She has literally thousands of short and long lists. And all those teachers have a lot of input.I recently got an email from someone who was in the same boat and pointed out something I thought was very interesting. She wrote: 'I was thinking that you must have had a V. Care listed as one of your students. But now I realize that you actually used a V. Care as one of your authors in your guide to writing, p.-, c.. APA style sample. How nice!I can find no argument against this choice, and it ma kes me wonder what a 'V. Care' would do. She was born about eighty years after V. Care, but I think she would be tickled if I had put her in the book. It would show her that I had taken her lessons to heart.A Perfect Example, from another acquaintance, was the case of Steven C. Miller, professor at Arizona State University, who teaches more than fifty APA courses. He also taught a class in the 1970s, called 'The Way of Ideas,' which would become the cornerstone of his new teaching philosophy. At the time, Dr. Miller was working on a dissertation using V. Care's 'The Character of Man.' He says, 'Without 'The Way of Ideas,' I'd probably never have finished the PhD.'The answer to the question of whether it is worthwhile to go back to APA or other writing formats is that one does not need to do so. You can choose a number of formats, and if you are working from templates, it makes it easier for you.For example, if you are writing a Capricorn wedding speech, you may not wish to include a great deal of Capricorn symbolism. For example, a wedding gown with a Capricorn design or a crest with the image of a Capricorn can be used. In some cases, you can edit your own speech by making changes here and there as you see fit.

An Analytical Essay Explaining Why Arthur Miller Wrote The Crucible Es

An Analytical Essay Explaining Why Arthur Miller Wrote The Crucible Authors often have underlying reasons for giving their stories certain themes or settings. Arthur Millers masterpiece, The Crucible, is a work of art inspired by actual events as a response to political and moral issues. Set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, The Crucible proves to have its roots in events of the 1950s and 1960s, such as the activities of the House Un-American Committee and the Red Scare. Though the play provides an accurate account of the Salem witch trials, its real achievement lies in the many important issues of Millers time that it deals with. Throughout The Crucible, Miller is concerned with conscience and guilt. Through the character Abigail Williams, he shows how people are willing to abandon their firmly-established values in order to conform with the majority and protect themselves. Those who refuse to part with their conscience, such as the character of John Proctor, are chastised for it. For this reason, the Salem witch trials raise a question of the administration of justice. During this time in the late 1600s, people were peroccupied by a fear of the devil, due to their severe Puritan belief system. Nineteen innocent people are hanged on the signature of Deputy Governor Danforth, who has the authority to try, convict, and execute anyone he deems appropriate. However, we as readers sense little to no real malice in Danworth. Rather, ignorance and fear plague him. The mass hysteria brought about by the witchcraft scare in The Crucible leads to the upheaval in peoples differentiation between right and wrong, fogging their sense of true justice. When Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in the early 1950s, the United States was experiencing a modern witch hunt of its own. Senator Joseph McCarthy, provoked by the Cold War, became fearfully convinced that Communists, or Reds, were polluting American government. He intended to hunt them out, force them to confess, and make them name their associates, almost as the Salem judges had done. In fact, the character of Danforth is based on McCarthy himself. There is a great parallel between the witch trials and the Red Scare. Both created a frenzy among the public, involved people going against each other to prove their innocence, and sought to hunt out those who rebelled against the dominant values of the time. Arthur Millers own involvement in the McCarthy witch hunt is very significant in the writing of The Crucible. He himself appeared before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956, accused of being a Communist. He admitted to having attended a Communist meeting years earlier to learn about their views. He was asked to name the others at the meeting but refused, stating, I am trying to and I will protect my sense of myself. Millers reaction to his cross-examination is similar to that of John Proctor, who represents Millers belief that righteousness is maintained if ones moral sense is kept. In Millers case, he was convicted of contempt, but the conviction was later appealed and reversed. It is evident that he wrote about McCarthyism indirectly to protect himself at the time. The witch hunt in Salem in 1692 and McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the United States in the 1950s are remarkably similar situations. The issues dealt with by Miller in documenting one of these clearly describes almost exactly the issues of the other. Miller masterfully uses the unfamiliar setting of the Salem witch hunt to comment on his own time. It is obvious in all the events represented through the writing of The Crucible that there is a common loss of judgement due to unjustified hysteria. The fact that we see this pattern repeat itself throughout history by reading this play points out that Miller recognizes this as a major concern of society. Though Arthur Miller creates parallels between controversies that occurred in very different times, it is the great universal significance of The Crucible that makes it successful. Millers concern with the shedding of guilt, the loss of morality, lack of genuine justice and the way he deals with these as a theme in the play have a stronger relevance that is striking. He also uses this theme to create a remarkable drama, but more importantly, they are issues that are applicable and crucial to him. Accordingly, The Crucible is far more than a story of the past. Rather, it is an allegory of our

Evil in Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Evil in Lord of the Flies Essay Example Evil in Lord of the Flies Paper Evil in Lord of the Flies Paper Essay Topic: Lord Of the Flies Evil is a description of something that causes harm, discomfort, repulsion and injury to another. The statement man produces evil as a bee produces honey Is relevant in the understanding of human nature. Bees produce honey as It is a natural Instinct and In that same way, humans produce evil. Humans only produce evil naturally and do not produce goodness. Lord of the Flies by William Gilding Is a clear representation of a group of boys regressing to their animal states because of the evil they produce naturally. Evil takes on many forms In this novel primarily though the need for power, the absence of rules and the Increasing distance from society. Through the uses of allegory, foreshadowing and symbolism Gilding states that evil Is a part of human nature as honey Is a part of a bees nature. One of the forms evil takes In this novel Is through power and corruption wealth Jack, contrasting with the leadership and direction Ralph provides. Jack and Ralph are the biggest boys on the island. Ralph is elected leader, which angers Jack. After being elected leader Ralph suggests in charge of the choir. They can be- what do you want them to be? Hunters- Ralph sets up to be a good leader as he takes into account the needs and desire of his group. Because of Jacks thirst for power, he starts persuading the others that Ralph is not a suitable leader so he can become Chief. He says, Who are you, anyway? Sitting there telling people what to do. You cant hunt, you cant sing- Im chief. I was chosen. Why should choosing make any difference? Just giving orders hat dont make sense- Gilding creates an allegory symbolizing Ralph as a democrat who is given power and Jack as an autocrat who takes power. Ralph became a true leader by taking responsibility for the survival and rescue of the boys. Jack, on the other hand, offers fun and meat to get his power but is willing to harm or kill to keep it. Jacks desire for power develops into evil actions against the other boys. When Jack is in power, he leads the brutal slaughter of a pig and then Simon. He fosters rebellion. He throws a spear at Ralph with full intention and later holds a group unit to kill him. Jack is plainly committing evil to show his authority. Since evil is an act that harms, Jack brings out the evil within himself and also the evil within his tribe. Another form evil takes is in Roger because of the absence of rules. Roger was tempted to throw the stones but because of the rules In England, he was taught that harming others was wrong. Through the civilization, Roger was taught how to condone his evil. Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space around Henry Into which he dare not throw. Here Invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Through the absence of rules, Roger Is free to do what he wants. This means there wont be a Limitation of how he uses his evil. When Roger throws stones In the direction of the lotuses, he uses It to show he does not need to follow rules. As the novel progresses, Rorers evil Instincts take over and he forgets the existence of rules and proper behavior. The quote Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee, shows this. Right before Pigs death, he better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking up things? By killing Piggy, the last reminder of the need for rules and civilized behavior is lost. The constant motif of rock throwing foreshadows the death of Piggy. To kill someone is the highest degree of committing evil. Roger is an example of how the boys reverted to their animal origins since the primal instinct of evil lead him to kill. Due to the increasing distance o society, the boys lose their morals and their human sense of what is right and become savages. A symbol in the novel that represents the boys need to recreate their civilization is the conch shell. The conch shell symbolizes the rule of law and civilization. Its used to call assemblies and acts as a microphone that grants the right to speak to whomever holds it during assembly. The conch is the one thing of the island which brought order and respect to the boy holding it. The destruction of the conch represents the obliteration of any order on the island. Once the conch was destroyed, the island was in chaos. Jack who has now completely regressed into a savage animal began screaming wildly, the conch is gone. Viciously He hurled his spear at Ralph. This shows they have forgotten about civilization and have turned savage. Savagery is another form of evil and is brought out because of the distance from civilization. Man produces evil Just as a bee produces honey. The thirst for power, the absence of rules and the distance from civilization are the sparks that trigger the inner evil within humans. Gilding uses a political allegory to compare the ways in which Ralph and Jack rule. Gilding foreshadows the untimely death of Piggy through the recurring theme of throwing rocks and finally he uses the symbol of the conch shell to signify that the rules are broken and the boys have forgotten where they came from and who they are. Lord of the Flies is a novel that is relevant to us since it teaches us that every man is born with evil and that the only way it can be slightly suppressed is by the rules of society. When there are no rules, evil emerges from humans.