Use of stereotypical characters and relevance for today - Essay Example

Use of stereotypical characters and relevance for today Introduction A stereotype is a typical psychological thought that a person adopts about another or an event. In most cases, the stereotypes are perceptions not often necessarily true about the victims of such thoughts. Stereotypes are therefore resultant of attitudes and mindsets, which change from time to time through interaction with the victims of such fates. Different authors use stereotypes as a character trait in developing their thoughts in literary works. Stereotypes occur in such contexts as thoughts widely adopted by people in a society. Literary works produced in different times presents different degrees of stereotypes owing to the different social beliefs of the different times and the technological advancement of the societies (BELL, 1999). Stereotypes therefore just as any other attitudinal aspect depends on the prevailing environmental factors as the discussion below depicts using different literary works produced in different periods. The epic of Gilgamesh is arguably one of the earliest works of literature in the history of human civilization. The narrative recounts the life of a ruler of an imaginary land known as Uruk. The people of Uruk are obedient to their King Gilgamesh. Most of these people believe that Gilgamesh is not just a human but a god as well. The king domineers his people and his word immediately becomes a law. The perception that he is godly makes the people respect his every will despite the obvious dissatisfaction in most of his rulings and decrees. The society at the time has a unique structure, one that believes in several gods, each of whom has limited powers in a specific aspect of life. Gilgamesh therefore acquires one of these features and conditions compels his followers to believe that he is a god and should therefore receive similar treatments as their numerous gods do. The society to this day still views women as evil and temptations to their male counterparts. Women use their sexuality more than men do and in most cases use such to instigate crimes and earn freedoms. Women are temptations to men as their corrupt their minds often leading to sin and crime. The modern day woman is more aggressive, a factor that makes her a more vile creature. Such are common stereotypes that result from the historical nature of women and their ability to convince men into crime and sin. The epic of Gilgamesh portrays women as such; the story that runs on the theme of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu uses the friendship to distract the oppressive leader from extorting his subjects. In the story, women play secondary and often negative roles most of which lead men into temptations and sin. To lure Enkidu from the forest, the people send him a prostitute to seduce him. After sleeping with the woman for some time, she convinces him to accompany him to the society. Later in the story as Enkidu faces death, he laments and curses the woman for convincing him to leave his peaceful and quite life in the forests and bringing him into the society where he accidentally offends the gods and is therefore to die. The use of the woman is a strategy and is similar in context to the biblical story of creation in which Eve attempts his male companion Adam into eating the fruit of knowledge thereby causing death in the modern society. Such stereotypes are still rife in certain parts of the world in the modern society, which therefore treat their women poorly for their close relation with ill luck arising from their persuasive nature. Among the most inhumane policies that he enacts is the one granting him the permission to sleep with every newly wedded woman in the kingdom. The people express their dissatisfaction with the policies of their ruler but the fact that he possibly is a god naturally compels their compliance with such grotesque policies. While the modern societies have become more liberal, the political society still play superior to the common citizens. Politicians especially in the developing democracies maneuver schemes that benefit them at the expense of their citizens. They do this successfully by instilling the notion of their importance in their subjects. By acting superior than their subjects, they enjoy hefty salaries, numerous allowances and more corrupt deals thereby amassing more wealth and power that they use to retain their prestigious positions at the expense of the electorate. Loyalty and respect to religions and the associated supernatural beings often come naturally depending on the beliefs of the society. For this reason, leaders have always used religions and the beliefs of their people to manipulate their ease of governance. Gilgamesh understood this possibility and therefore claimed himself a god (FITZGERALD, 2010). His position therefore became more prestigious as the religious society began worshiping him complying with his every wish. To convince his people, Gilgamesh stays in constant contact with the spirits and the gods of the society. He even opposes some and engages them in wars most of which he wins. By winning such wars, Gilgamesh confirms to the people that he is indeed a god since only one can engage other gods in a fight and possibly win such fights. Such actions earn Gilgamesh more loyalty thereby making him the undisputed leader of the kingdom. The modern politics and leadership often invoke the application of spirituality and the religious belief of the people. The Bible and the Koran, which are holy religious books, both acknowledge the position of leaders in a society. The books and their respective religions assert that God ordains leaders and the subject have no alternative but to obey their commands. It is not surprising therefore, that for a long time the church especially the Roman Catholic became so involved in the governance of the Roman Kingdom and the early Western societies. The modern leadership also still invokes the inspiration of religions to earn the loyalty of the adherents of the different faiths. Politicians attend church services just as any other civilians and such actions during political campaigns aim at winning the loyalty of the faithful thereby earning them votes in the elections. Such beliefs among people result in relative results as some express affection to such leaders while others express dissatisfaction at the open mutilation of the human faith. Gilgamesh believes he is a god and for that reason, he should not die. He therefore becomes obsessed with the idea of immortality. His obsession leads him into doing anything merely to earn immortality. He is willing to sacrifice his life and risks it on a journey to where the people believe is the end of the world only to seek answers in how to earn immortality. On the journey, Gilgamesh risks his life often meeting and fighting wild animals and tribes in the mountains but because of his determination of earning immortality, he walks on until he meets the couple who have lived the longest on earth. Gilgamesh believes that the two will possibly link him to the gods thereby possibly earn immortality. Stereotypes are mere perceptions resulting from the mental state of people. Because of a belief, Gilgamesh in the narrative sets out on a tedious endeavor thereby risking his life to find an impossibility. The same is applicable in the modern society where stereotypes have influenced public reactions possibly resulting in wars among other life risking activities. In the belief the Hutu, a tribe in Rwanda believed that their Tutsi counterparts could not possibly lead them. The strong common dislike sheared between the two tribes that resulted from negative and unfounded stereotypes resulted in the worst genocide that the world has ever witnessed. Additionally, the modern society is rife with negative stereotypes with most American considering anyone from the Middle East as a possible terrorist. Such mindsets breed conflict thereby resulting in security lapses as the regions engage in unnecessary wars. Gilgamesh manages to develop a meek society with minimal resistance. He does this by invoking the natural spirits in which his subjects believe thereby asserting supernatural powers. In addition to the supernatural power, Gilgamesh maintains a well-built body with adequate energy. He tests his energy with Enkidu a late entrant into the play who seeks to oppose the King thereby deliver the people of Uruk from their corrupt king. However, in the fight Gilgamesh manages to overpower Enkidu who acknowledges his strength (KOVACS, 1989). This way, Gilgamesh maintains his position in the society as a demi god one who the people cannot defeat and should not even try opposing. To quell any further resistance from his people, Gilgamesh befriends Enkinu thereby taking control of any other possibility of resistance. Modern politics are similar in form especially in the developing world where the political leaders often expect no opposition from their subjects. Such leaders undertake any possible endeavor to ensure they retain power. Despite the modern widespread of democracy, the leadership of several countries in the modern society still exhibit features of tyranny. They mutilate the constitutions thereby retaining more power with minimal resistance (MASON, 2003). An effective means of curbing opposition has always been reward in which the politicians reward their most loyal friends with positions in the government and the resources of the country among many other forms of unorthodox gifts. This way they attract the loyalty of everyone thereby earning their loyalty as well. Such leaders react to oppositions forcefully often killing and maiming the most vocal while corrupting the gullible thereby turning them into friends. Such actions aid the development of such stereotypes as any uninvestigated death of a prominent person in such societies especially those known to have opposed the leaders are victims of state murders. Romulus and Remus are two iconic characters in the myths explaining the foundation of the city Rome and the subsequent Roman Empire. The theory of the two brothers alleged that the two were born of a virgin and a god Mars. At the time of their birth, the kingdom was under the leadership of a vile king who ordered their deaths. However, the young brothers survive mysteriously after which a she wolf suckles them until a peasant family adopts them. Just as any other early myths, the story presents numerous stereotypical features most of which are applicable in the modern society. The two brothers survived mysteriously owing to their divine birth and later humbly as peasants often helping their foster parents in their fields. Eventually they learn of their identity thereby kill Amilius an illegitimate leader of the community and returns the leadership of the society to its rightful owners. The brother managed to win a substantial fellowship and therefore wanted to find a city for their growing followers. In a quarrel over the location of the city, Romulus kills Remus and thereafter develops the city naming it Rome. Owing to its divine inception, the city grows rapidly to become the great Roman Empire, which ruled earliest human civilization for generation and still is a powerful city in the modern society. The myth of the two brothers validates several stereotypes about the city Rome and the Early Romans. Romans were powerful citizens in the early society, they had wealth and power, and therefore most people considered it a privilege to be born a Roman. The city had an effective military and an efficient system of administration. Some of such thoughts about the city are still rife especially owing to the presence of the Vatican, which headquarters the modern religion. The modern society therefore believes that Rome is a holy city. The thought that the Vatican is built on Saint Peter’s tomb is still rife and likely true. Peter was one of Jesus’s disciples killed by the Romans several years after the death of Jesus. For all the reasons, Rome has played an important role in the development of the modern Christian faith. Such beliefs originate from the divine origin of the city as the myth of the two mysterious brothers explain. The Roman Empire therefore became strong often subduing her enemies in battles. Through victories, the city accumulated more wealth and slaves thereby becoming stronger and her population more wealthy. The common belief at the time was that God had ordained the empire thereby making it the most powerful kingdom. The subsequent success in battles resulted in the kingdom expanding her territories to cover greater parts of the modern day European continents and other parts of Africa. The myth therefore provides explanations to such stereotypical beliefs, which made most of the ancient societies, fear the early Roman Empire. Stereotypes form opinions and often influenced the outcomes of most of the battles. The other kingdoms neighboring the Roman Empire often felt inadequate to face the mighty Roman Empire thereby earning Rome the advantage in battles. Stereotypes just as explained earlier are attitudinal implying that they are mental states they therefore influence interactions. With the belief that God ordained the Roman Empire, the Kingdom faced her enemies more boldly thereby winning the mental battles. One of the most conspicuously held stereotypes is that most charismatic leaders eventually become tyrants. The modern society has experienced the rise of several charismatic leaders most of whom after assuming power become dictatorial and therefore do not benefit their subjects. The creation of societies comes without the effective laws to govern the entire process thereby trusting such responsibilities on the founder. Such factors have often resulted in the development of such modern day dictators as the late Gadhafi of Libya, Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the late Sadam Hussein of Iraq all of whom were freedom fighters in their countries only to assume power and turn into dictators (DANING, 2007). The same occurs in the myth soon after Romulus takes over the governance of the new city and becomes a tyrant often bullying and molesting his followers. In fact, the myth does not record his death as he simply disappears. The modern society observes politics a dirty game in which people steal and kill others only to earn positions thereby acquiring power and wealth. The modern day politics in different countries have therefore experienced several murders. Most of the techniques that politicians use to gain power and authority are unorthodox and may often include such inhumane acts as murders. The American society for example has had its share of murders including the murders of two serving presidents. Such actions arise from the fact that politics result in the conflict of interest in which case every person presents a different argument to an issue. In most of such cases especially in the developing democracies, the powerful leaders resort to killing their oppositions thereby creating a favorable political environment for their illegitimate survival. Conflict of interest originates in the early foundation of the city. The two brothers do not agree with the position of the city for each had his substantial size of following. The case thereafter presented an argument that none of the brothers should possibly solve. Each held the idea of a different location yet they commonly knew that it was only through the unity of their people that they could develop a powerful state (MASON, 2003). Tired of the discussion that was not possible ending, Romulus stones his brother to death thereby earning the autonomy to decide the location of the city single handedly. Left alone, he makes the decision and settles the people in a location that thereafter develops to become the modern day Rome. Such difficult situations face the modern day leaders who in a bid to defend their own self-interest kill their competitions thereby creating a space for their survival. In retrospect, stereotypes are attitudinal and often negative therefore subject to change depending on the nature of the interaction with the victims of such subjective mindsets. Some are factual following the formation on facts while others are fallacies and results of propaganda. The modern politicians have perfected the art of propaganda, which they use as a tool for acquiring political privileges. Propaganda influence people’s minds thereby resulting in the creation of stereotypes, opinions and perceptions about others often resulting in conflicts. The modern societies have effective institutions of power, which coupled with the advanced technological means of communication result in wider and faster spread of propaganda, which therefore influence more people. The effects of propaganda are systematic and seamless thereby influencing the mental states often validating the beliefs held by the people. Propaganda relies on the common social stereotypes and therefore is a beneficiary of the structural stereotypes in the society. In creating propaganda, propagandists research on the common social stereotypes which favor their interests thereby expounding on them a feature that often increase the belief on such claims. However, propaganda is deceptive in nature and intended to delude the people from the real facts. Such tools are effective in times of conflicts when a region is highly unstable and the country has no unidirectional source of information. Works Cited BELL, C. (1999). Literature: a crash course. New York, Watson-Guptill Publications. DANING, T. (2007). Roman mythology: Romulus and Remus. New York, PowerKids Press. FITZGERALD, M. (2010). Romulus and Remus. Huntington Beach, Shell Education. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=828688 KOVACS, M. G. (1989). The epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford, Calif, Stanford University Press. MASON, H. (2003). Gilgamesh a verse narrative. Boston, Houghton Mifflin. http://www.contentreserve.com/TitleInfo.asp?ID={849572B9-B11E-4018-BD59 5541231EDF30}&Format=410. Read More