The Meaning of Character
A cursory glimpse at the Oxford English Dictionary enlightens the reader to the fact that there are no less than nineteen definitions of the word character - of which, six focus on a person's moral fiber and overall nature. A person's character, it seems, is a compilation of the moral qualities - or lack thereof - that he has developed over the course of his lifetime and, more important, are strongly or strikingly displayed in his actions. Thus, a person of "favorable character" would exhibit, in his conduct, a fundamental nature that has, at its core, a high moral makeup. On the other hand, a person of "low character" would display the activities and behavioral manners that one would only expect to find amongst the 'lower echelon' of society. In essence, when used to describe the qualities of an individual, the term character is wholly dependent upon the adjective that precedes it. As a student of history therefore, I believe that character plays a dominant role in any evaluation of historical events.There have been and continue to be scholars who view history and conclude that there are forces in nature that transcend man. There are certain economic, political and social forces that move like a tidalwave, ferrying man from one
For if, in fact, it is the people who shape an era, then the character of the men and women who have a lasting effect on that era reveal to us the moral fiber of the culture as a whole. To me, history is all about the study of people. Although it would be easy to express a desire that all "important" contributors to the history of the world be composed of a high moral character, I realize that this can not be so. This can be clearly seen in what is happening in the United States today. Character is all about who we are as a people. At best, those who are lucky enough to be born at the right time and in the right place - and are possessed of the proper skills - can ride this wave of history to its highest peak. It will, I think, give them a better understanding of the character of this age then what they will find, for example, in the literature of this period. This is true not only for those of high moral character, but for those of low character as well. While it is undeniably true that all the aspects of the above said age played a part in the founding of this country, to say that the events would have happened without a Thomas Jefferson, a James Madison or an Alexander Hamilton would be sheer lunacy. As such, the character of the men and women who mold an age, and leave a lasting imprint on history, is of significance. This analysis has always seemed hollow to me. The idea that natural forces dictate events, and people just happen to ride along, undermines, I believe, the essence of who we are and how we came to be. The President of the United States has been involved in shameless and repulsive behavior - and the people of this country do not care! As long as the economy is good, who cares? This, I believe, emphasizes the low moral grade of this nation, and should be evaluated by students studying this era in the future. It is the individuals within each age that mold the economic and political landscapes that lead to the next age.
Common topics in this essay:
English Dictionary,
President United,
Genghis Kahn,
Alexander Hamilton,
,
character women,
low character,
economic political,
term character,
favorable character,
student history,
moral fiber,
character people,
moral character,
|
Acceptance Essays
