Achilles Will Return After These Messages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Achilles Will Return After These Messages - Essay Example There are three traditional levels of conflict in fiction: man against the world, man against man, and man against himself. The distinguishing characteristic of soap opera is that it takes place entirely on the second level. A soap opera character may have a job or a role in society, or inner conflict, but the most important thing about them will always be their relationships with other people. A soap character might be introduced via an external event, such as a murder or a corporate merger, but they will be defined entirely by their friends, lovers, enemies, grudges, and so on. Soap operas subordinate all other concerns to personalities and interpersonal conflict. To take a recent example (SoapCentral.com) from popular daytime soap Guiding Light: â€Å"Desperate to redeem himself as a father, Alan convinced Phillip to undergo the bone marrow transplant with Alan as the donor.† The phrasing is key: this isn’t a medical drama or even about saving a life, it’s about Alan trying to redeem himself. In soap opera, the character felt it personally necessary, and no other considerations need enter. Achilles’ behavior through much of the Iliad, that is to say hiding in his tent doing nothing, is often described as that of a sulky adolescent ignoring his responsibilities out of pique. While that reading isn’t far off base, another angle would be to point out that his behavior is that of a soap opera character. Is he tired of the war, or does he have some larger problem? No, he has simply been personally affronted by Agamemnon over t he matter of Briseis, and so refuses to fight. â€Å"Truly the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon has dishonoured me: for he has taken and keeps my prize through his own arrogant act.† (Book 1, line 355) His feelings are of paramount importance, and the war can go hang. Indeed, within the context of a soap opera, the war is irrelevant. The questions of offense and personal honor are where the story lies. Of course, Achilles does return to the war in time, but why he does so is just as telling. He does not rally heroically just as the Trojans are about to overrun the Achaean positions, as would happen in a war story. He does not come to the realization that some things are more important than his hurt feelings, as might happen in the story of a personal journey. Rather, he charges back into battle when the Trojans have the temerity to kill his lover, Patroclus. To put it another way, he left the war because the Achaeans hurt his feelings, and reentered it because the Trojans hurt his feelings even worse. â€Å"†¦neither doth my own heart bid me live on and abide among men, unless Hector first, smitten by my spear, shall lose his life, and pay back the price for that he made spoil of Patroclus, son of Menoetius.† (Book 18, line 90) If this is not soap opera characterization, it is difficult to say what else it might be. The Iliad is often described as one of the founding documents of Western literature. It is certainly one of the earliest stories to have come down to us roughly intact, and its influence on other works is incalculable. To point out that it is, effectively, a soap opera is not to somehow demean the Iliad, but rather to ennoble the concept of a soap opera. I find it hard, today, to read the Iliad and not think at

Are Police Officers Above the Laws They are Sworn to Uphold Essay

Are Police Officers Above the Laws They are Sworn to Uphold - Essay Example A better spotlight on police activities and education on human rights principles is much needed to re-align the interests of the American police force with those of the American public and at the same time, a system of public oversight needs to be established to make the police more accountable for their actions (Cohen 1975). Police corruption and violence take a huge toll on a society. The feelings of injustice and an increased marginalization of the less privileged are only amplified when a person is unlawfully targeted by the police. The increased police violence also brings with it the disappointment that nothing can be done to curb this tyranny undertaken by the police. This attitude is quite pervasive in the society, leading many people to view the law enforcement agencies as the enemy which seriously undermines their authority by giving people a reason to not cooperate with them if need be (Sherman 1978). It is true that many police officers remain conscientious and honest but still, there are others who use their authority to serve their own interests. Unfortunately, this attitude is a source of fear and harassment for their victim’ families and the related communities. ... This is a serious allegation as it means that sometimes more than one police officer is involved in the incidence. Police violence is usually a way of imparting justice which clearly is not a part of their job description. It is commonly accepted in the American legal system that a person is innocent until proven guilty. But the American police have acquired the reputation of being a law unto themselves. Many incidences are reported every year, where it is evident the a police man acted without any respect for people’s rights and imparted violence even though the situation could have been handled without the use of guns or batons (Sherman 1978). The profession of a policeman requires a lot of accountability, perhaps even more than a doctor’s. After all, only police officers have the authority to take away a person’s freedom and even life and no questions may be asked in certain situations. This power over people’s lives is also very visible which is why ev ery police officer must hold himself to the greatest standard of honesty, integrity, equality and professionalism. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and instead many police officers are blinded into thinking that their authority over people’s lives is immortal and invincible (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime 2011). Law enforcement agencies must create procedures that subjugate police officers to public scrutiny in case of any violent or corrupt behavior. They must take responsibility for policemen demonstrating proper public behavior. (COPS 2009) Police force needs to build a sustainable relationship with the public by demonstrating honor and integrity. Police officers who are found guilty of race discrimination or use of excessive force must