How much power does an individual wield?
"With great power, comes great responsibility." These words, spoken by Uncle Ben to young Peter Parker and every kid known to mankind, echo the true meaning of power. Power is the influence, either good or bad, one has on a person or persons. From this statement, the amount of power someone possesses completely depends on the actions of the individual.
In all honesty, I believe that everyone has power: from all the leaders that lived to the people at the bottom of the social ladder, but there has to be a reason why we recognize presidents and prime ministers--even dictators--to have so much power in their hands. What did they do? Well, in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, the leader of Tom Sawyer's Gang, shows the power he has over the neighborhood kids. Taking these kids into a cave, he only allows them to join his gang if they "take an oath, and write his name in blood" (Twain 10). To accentuate how serious Tom's club is, the Gang has to "kill" (Twain 10) families; their only business is "robbery and murder" (Twain 11). Tom has the power--he does not mess around. His influence over Huck and friends is quite incredible, and with every command that Tom makes, the kids do not argue against him. His power did not fade either because Huck still follows Tom's orders during Jim's rescue even though a simple lift of the bed and a climb through the window would have been enough. Tom's organization, speeches, and sly-talking, along with his attracting personality, help him to become the leader he is recognized for. He is a man of power.
The most obvious example of power is Adolf Hitler. I have to ask how this man who we unarguable label as pure evil grew to rule Germany. During the time, I do know he promised to bring back Germany to its former glory. Hitler inspired millions in his campaign for reform, and in the process, he blamed the hopeless state of the country on the Jews. He sure had everyone fooled when he would make a speech for European dominance while in the background. systematically killing six million Jews. He sure had some power to convince everyone he would lead Germany to the top--of course, leaving Germany in near ruins at the end of World War II. And even now, his influence lives: antisemitism still exists and Hitler's unforgettable actions have left an imprint on the history books.
The power someone wields is directly related to the person's influential ability. Tom Sawyer and Hitler are both convincing and generally attract leadership. The line that separates them is their actions. Tom is the good guy who always looking out for his Gang while trying to get the most fun out of it, in contrast to Hitler, who had it all but was consumed by such great power. Uncle Ben knew that when someone has the abilities to make a change, it takes a great deal of care and knowledge to make the right decisions.
The most obvious example of power is Adolf Hitler. I have to ask how this man who we unarguable label as pure evil grew to rule Germany. During the time, I do know he promised to bring back Germany to its former glory. Hitler inspired millions in his campaign for reform, and in the process, he blamed the hopeless state of the country on the Jews. He sure had everyone fooled when he would make a speech for European dominance while in the background. systematically killing six million Jews. He sure had some power to convince everyone he would lead Germany to the top--of course, leaving Germany in near ruins at the end of World War II. And even now, his influence lives: antisemitism still exists and Hitler's unforgettable actions have left an imprint on the history books.
The power someone wields is directly related to the person's influential ability. Tom Sawyer and Hitler are both convincing and generally attract leadership. The line that separates them is their actions. Tom is the good guy who always looking out for his Gang while trying to get the most fun out of it, in contrast to Hitler, who had it all but was consumed by such great power. Uncle Ben knew that when someone has the abilities to make a change, it takes a great deal of care and knowledge to make the right decisions.
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