Assignment: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Essay:
Questioning the ideas decisions and actions of people in positions of authority deems itself necessary. One example that supports this idea can be seen in the novel, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, where the main character Guy Montague decides to question the government and its actions because they went against his beliefs. Another solid example that illustrates this idea could be seen in the novel "1984" by George Orwell, where the main character goes against the beliefs of Big Brother, in order to stand up for what it right.
One main example that sheds light on this fact that it is necessary to challenge what people with authority claim to be true is in the novel "Fahrenheit 451", by Ray Bradbury. The main character Guy Montague, does not support the idea of the government, which is to burn all books, so no ideas of any sort remain preserved. He relentlessly shows his hatred towards this idea, by standing up for what he believes and knows is correct. It is necessary for people to voice their concerns so that the government can rectify the mistakes that it is making, which is exactly what Montague was advocating. The idea that the government puts forth of burning books is morally wrong and Montague acknowledges that and steps forth against the government. It was necessary for Montague to question the people with higher authority, especially when they are blatantly obvious that they are wrong. Few people are able to muster up the courage to do that, but it is extremely necessary to make higher authority realize what they are doing is incorrect.
Another example that illustrates the idea that, yes, people should indeed question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority was in the novel "1984" by George Orwell. In this novel, the government, called Big Brother, is an questionable authority that refuses to allow people to have their own say, and even their own thoughts. The government monitors each individual is societies every move, but yet the main characters Winston and his girlfriend, Julia, stand up to the government of Big Brother and fight against it. They despise the fact that they are being controlled in every aspect and cannot have a mind of their own without any outsider (Big Brother), knowing everything. The revolt that Winston and Julia have questions and attempts to undermine the authority of Big Brother, something, that was extremely necessary in that supposedly "utopian" society. Winston and Julia wanted to get the message across to Big Brother that whatever the government was doing was wrong and the revolting and questioning their authority they wanted to prove the Big Brother was at fault, Big Brother's attempt to make the perfect society, a "utopia", was not being done correctly which is the why the characters had to speak and act out against Big Brother, higher authority. Unfortunately, very few people are able to take a stance and question the doings of higher authority, but these actions are deemed necessary, in order to make sure that people's thought and say gets heard.
In the novel "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, and novel "1984", by George Orwell, both examples are able to strong support the idea that it is vital to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority to make sure that the government is acting correctly.
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