SH+P6+2013+Dual+Nature+of+Man

Sean Farrell Alec Husted Joseph Eppe rson Hayden Dunn


 * Dual Nature of Man:** Competition between reality and religious versions of good vs evil

Alec Husted There are many groups of people that believe in a constant battle between the forces of good and evil. The belief in the dual nature of man is that every person has an internal battle between the two forces at any given moment. For example, the prominently Asian religion named “Taoism” believes in a good versus evil, light versus dark scenario. According to BBC, “(the sides) may be masculine or feminine, but they could be darkness and light. These are opposites that fit together seamlessly and work in perfect harmony.” (bbc.co.uk). Unlike other beliefs in western religions like Christianity and Judaism, Taoism and its followers believe in good and evil being in perfect harmony even though they do both exist in one world. In western religions like Christianity, good and evil are not cooperative, however they rather are in a constant battle between themselves. Christians also believe that God has given free will to people to choose between good and evil and distinguish between the two. These two religions represent the biggest religions of the western and eastern hemispheres. People around the world could relate to the “Dual Nature of Man” just by using the good versus evil analogy or a battle between two polar and opposite sides. In other words, the followers of most of the majority of religions believe in either a battle between good versus evil in mankind or a cooperation between the two forces.
 * Audience: **
 * 1.)Who is the audience? **

Like the paragraph above, the primary and most prominent audience is all followers of most written religions, for example Christianity. The secondary audience would surprisingly be historians. Historians themselves can point out many times in history that there has been a massive conflict between good and evil (i.e. wars). For example, during the Second World War, behind the curtain was the Holocaust in which the leader of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, murdered millions of innocent people. The History Channel says that, “The word ‘holocaust,’ from the Greek word ‘holos’ (whole) and ‘kaustos’ (burned) was historically used to describe a sacrificial offering burned on an altar. Since 1945, the world has taken on a new and horrible meaning: the mass murder of six million European Jews by the German Nazi regime during the Second World War.” (history.com). The whole war was fought over liberating the people of Europe who were trapped and held under fear by the Nazi regime. The was not only fought in Europe; in addition, it was fought in Asia and the Pacific against the Japanese that also murdered millions of innocent Chinese men, women, and children. The Second World War is probably the closest real world example of a battle between good and evil This is a major and one of the most common examples used by historians to explain good versus evil in the real world over previous years. Most battles considered by historians to be a battle between a “good” side and “bad” side are wars because wars are oftenly related to a battle between the armies of good and evil, and at other times it is unclear and both parties are good or both parties are evil in the own sense. Some other conflicts might include rebellions and revolutions like the Russian Revolution and Cuban Revolution to overthrow a suspected evil or corrupt dictator. There are numerous other pivotal moments in World History that could be considered good versus evil (i.e. the Civil War, the Cold War, etc.) This proves that historians would be a secondary audience because they themselves can pick out real world examples of any examples of the “Dual Nature of Man” in which mankind can be either good or evil.
 * 2.)Who is the primary audience? Who is the secondary audience? **

It is possible that the author of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” had assumptions about or towards his target audience. One of the assumptions would be that the concept of the “Dual Nature of Man” and the good versus evil analogy would all be familiar to the main and secondary audiences of the novella. In addition, author might assume that the “Dual Nature of Man” theory might be familiar with the audience due to different peoples’ personalities. Some people might be naturally kind and nice (good) and others could be naturally mean and angry (evil). Most people can relate to these two main types of people by referencing to people in their own life or people in other’s lives.
 * 3.) What assumptions does the author have about his or her audience? **

The possible assumptions might prove to be both a strength and a weakness to the author and his/her ability to appeal and connect with the audience. A strength would be a mass majority of the people living on Earth are involved in a religion of their choice. Another pro for the author is that people can easily relate to themselves by choices. Everyday, a person has the choice to act good or evil, or in this case free will, and people wake up with that same decision to make daily for the rest of their life. On the other hand, a possible weakness would be to the people that aren’t familiar with the concept of a person being good or evil, but instead, those people think that people are who they are, and they cannot change themselves. Overall the assumptions that the author would make would possibly be a strength.
 * 4.) Are these assumptions a strength or a weakness? **

Sean Farrell Good and Evil, Past and Present, Light and Dark, Heaven vs Hell,all of these are common topics that authors will use to develop a cultural relationship with the reader. Readers connect these topics to the outside world and develop a better knowledge with the text that the author has written. Many greek myths show the struggle between good and evil, these old myths had a great cultural effect on ancient greece. One researcher states,“The mythology of the ancient Greeks was more than an assembly of wonder tales about their gods and heroes; it was the collected knowledge, belief, and tradition about the nature of the gods, the world, and humanity's relationship to both”(ABC-CLIO). Greek Mythology was a teaching tool for Ancient Greece, the story tellers build deep relationships with the audience around them. These stories defined the Greek culture.
 * Cultural: **
 * 1.) How do cultural events influence the relationship between the author and audience? **

Authors use the Dual Nature of Man to persuade readers on the views they see true. Authors may use Good vs Evil to persuade a reader to believe that something is good or evil. The writers words may not be true, but they are convincing enough to change a reader's mind about the topic and will agree with the writer. Adolf Hitler was very persuasive, he changed the minds of many Germans. He convinced the German people he had the correct ideas and any other ideas that opposed his became incorrect. One researcher states, “Hitler was a charismatic speaker and first gained popularity through his street-corner oratories in the 1920s”(ABC-CLIO). Hitler's speeches and propaganda are an example of the effect persuasion has on a culture.
 * 2.) How does the persuasion affect the cultural (modern) context of the written text? **

Joseph Epperson The purpose of Good versus Evil to actually enhance and help society in ways of promoting being good. Because if you think about it, evil is so gruesomely displayed, that it will have a natural moral rightness for people to want to be good instead of evil. It is also used to prove many points as well. Weather the point is proving religious points such as one Albert Einstein once said, “God did not create evil, just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of god” What he means by evil is the absence of god is that evil no matter what evil is always going to stoop under the level of being good. Or it can be stated in a normal society moral such as one famous quote Martin Luther King Jr. stated “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” (1966). and this statement means it is better to to conquer evil once with being good than being beat by evil triumphant forever.
 * Aim: **
 * 1.)What is the purpose of Good vs Evil? **



Hayden Dunn Historical and political events can have a strong influence on how the audience views the concept of man’s dual nature, or good versus evil. One important historical event or one influential political speech can change many peoples’ views on the concept of good and evil entirely. In one of Winston Churchill’s famous speeches, he states, “I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone” (Churchill). In this speech, Churchill is motivating citizens and soldiers to fight for the cause of retaking what was lost from them, proving the good versus evil relationship between Axis and Allies. Either side sees themselves as the good side, and uses dual nature of man to motivate a cause.
 * Historical: **
 * 1. How do historical, or political even **** tsthe relationship between the author and audience? **

Historical events have both affected and been affected by the concept of the dual nature of man. Historical events can entirely change what the majority’s definition of good and evil is, along with their thoughts on humanity overall. The conflict of ideas between countries and civilizations has affected the idea of what good and evil really is in man, and the results of which have had the ability to shape man itself. President John F. Kennedy had brought up this observation before in his inauguration speech, in which he stated, “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own” (Kennedy). JFK speeches have often proven that man has the largest effect on the change of the world, and the ideology of good versus evil depends solely on what the ideology of the writer of history is.
 * 2. How do historical events affect the written text? **

“Taoism”. British Broadcasting Corporation **. ** //British Broadcasting Corporation// **. ** n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.
 * Works Cited:**

“The Holocaust”. The History Channel **. **// The History Channel //**. ** n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.

“Christianity: Good and Evil”. British Broadcasting Corporation. British Broadcasting Corporation. n.d. Web. 25 July 2013 **. **

“The Cold War”. Cold War Museum **. **// The Cold War Museum //**. ** n.d. Web. 26 July 2013

Emmons, Jim Tschen. “Greek mythology.” // World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras //. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 25 July 2013.

“Adolf Hitler gives a speech.” Image. The Illustrated London New Picture Library. // World at War: // // Understanding Conflict and Society //. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 25 July 2013.

“Good vs Evil Quotes”. //Good Reads//. n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.

“Good vs Evil” **. ** //Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia//. 7 June 2013. Web. 25 July 2013.

“JFK Inaugural Address”. JFK Info. n.d. Web. 25 July 2013

“We shall fight on the beaches”. The Churchill Centre and Museum at the Churchill War Rooms,

London. n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.