Thursday, February 28, 2008
I think the notion that specific historical events mold people into who they ultimately become is very intriguing. Instead of people simply being born into or accidently appear as great leaders or mediators they are forged by the situations and trials they face during their lives. While I believe this notion to be completely valid in that people cannot be great leaders without adverse situations, people do certainly posses certain characteristics that enable them to seize a given opportunity and exhibit their skills to some greater end. Calhoun and Toussaint were both thrust into a situation where they were able to act as mediators between black and white interests as it were, but they were also able to mediate between the rich and poor, social lines that were usually drawn by color at this point in history.
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I like how you put it, that it is the events that mold the people. It sort of reminds me of naturalism and how the world is not a moral world, but rather the people are put into a certain situation and react accordingly. It is almost like Calhoun and Toussaint had no choice but to become who they were. Toussaint became a leader and Calhoun, put in the extreme divided situation on the boat had no choice but to become the mediator. Naturalism also says that free will is basically futile and that human being actions are based on something beyond themselves. I can really see that applied to especially Calhoun, who was a much different character at the end after being placed in extreme circumstances.
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