Invisible Man

At a first glance Invisible Man does not appear to be based much off of fear, but as one looks more closely at the text it becomes evident is filled with actions committed by fear. For instance, in the very first speech made by the narrator he reveals his fear of the white man. He shows that he knows his place when he quickly stumbles after accidentally saying "social equality." The narrator originally shapes who he wants to be based off of his fear of the white man, by accepting his place in their society and not questioning it. Fear comes into play again after the narrator takes Mr. Norton through the town, and out of fear of what might happen, Bledsoe expels the narrator from the college. This expulsion occurred simply because Bledsoe feared that the narrator would not be capable of living in the white man's world with an education. Later in the paint factory the narrator's fear of asking his supervisor what paint to fill his can with leads him to trouble, where he is then reassigned with Brockway, gets in a fight, and accidentally blows up the boiler room. Which then leads to the Brotherhood where the narrator operates constantly in fear. At first he was very trusting of the Brotherhood, but he begins to learn that he must be careful if he wants to keep his position, and therefore becomes fearful of the Brotherhood's leaders, which yet once again dictates some of his actions. Finally, it is while he is running from Ras the Destroyer that he decides where he "decides" his fate. It is while he is running out of fear that he falls into the sewers and finds his home.

King Lear, Shakespeare

The play King Lear by Shakespeare does not touch much on the concept of fear. It instead chooses to mainly address sanity and loyalty; however there are a few instances in which fear controls the characters. One example of this is how Edmund manages to get Edgar fearful for his life, by convincing Edgar that he is a wanted man for plotting to murder Gloucester. Edgar, caught up in the moment, and fearful of what was to come, listens to his brother and flees the castle. Another ironic concept involving fear occurs after Gloucester's eyes have been gouged out. Fearful that Gloucester will acquire sympathy from the people and lead to the overturning of Regan's empire, she issues the command for Oswald to kill Gloucester on sight. When Oswald attempts to kill Gloucester he is killed first by Edgar, who then reads a letter revealing Edmund's corruption. It is from the knowledge gained from this letter that Edgar challenges Edmund to a duel, and upsets his plan, along with the entire play. Although the play does not explain why we let fear control us, it is an example of why not to make decisions out of fear. It was out of fear that lead Edgar to rise up and become the "hero" of the play.

Shakespeare Concordance: Life

Act I, Scene II

Edmund

This dialogue occurs between Edmund and his father, Gloucester. It occurs right after Edmund gives Gloucester "Edgar's" letter, incriminating him of conspiring against his father.

EDMUND I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please

 you to suspend your indignation against my

 brother till you can derive from him better

 testimony of his intent, you shall run a certain

 course; where, if you violently proceed against

 him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great

 gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the

 heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life

 for him, that he hath wrote this to feel my

 affection to your honour, and to no further

 pretence of danger.

This passage details how Edmund tries to portray his love for his brother and cover for his "brother's" letter. He does this to merely make the situation more believable, and by acting like he loves his brother he is actually proving he does not.

Edmund is using the word as a way to really get his father's attention. Here the word is being used as an asset, or collateral to convince Gloucester to listen to Edmund. He does not merely think or believe an idea, he lays down his life for this idea. Although this word is not very connotative, it is very symbolic, because Edmund's life is riding on this lie. Whether his father believes this or not will determine if he becomes and heir to Gloucester, or simply the illegitimate child.

Act II, Scene II

Cornwall

This exchange occurs after Kent has insulted and fought with Oswald, and Cornwall is bringing "justice."

CORNWALL Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,

 There shall he sit till noon.

This quote is Cornwall stating that as long as he lives and has his power Kent will remain in the stocks until noon the next day.

Here Cornwall is using the word life as an expression to make an absolute statement. He is making clear there is no doubt that Kent will be punished. He is making Kent an example and using his life and honor to make the point. Ironically when Cornwall loses his honor (gouging out Gloucester's eyes for "treason") he also loses his life.

Similarly to Edmund, Cornwall uses the word life as an expression to prove a point; however, although neither have connotations to it, they both ironically do represent the fate of the speaker.

Act III, Scene IV

Gloucester

This statement occurs between Gloucester and Kent while they are out in the storm. Gloucester makes says this line after Kent says King Lear's wits begin to unsettle.

GLOUCESTER Canst thou blame him?

 [Storm still]

 His daughters seek his death: ah, that good Kent!

 He said it would be thus, poor banish'd man!

 Thou say'st the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,

 I am almost mad myself: I had a son,

 Now outlaw'd from my blood; he sought my life,

 But lately, very late: I loved him, friend;

 No father his son dearer: truth to tell thee,

 The grief hath crazed my wits. What a night's this!

 I do beseech your grace,--

This quote is a quick summary of the plots against the King and against Gloucester. Overall Gloucester is just remorseful over what has happened so far throughout the play.

In this passage the first thing that caught my eye is Shakespeare writes "His daughters seek his death" for the King, but then writes "he sought my life" for Gloucester. The use of life instead of death the second time around is a curious situation. My best guess for this is that Lear may already be "dead" in essence. He has lost his mind and is no longer truly himself, the true Lear has died, where as Gloucester is still sane and aware of reality (at least for the time being). This difference can be seen when Gloucester says, "the king grows mad... I am almost mad myself." Ironically Edgar truly did seek Gloucester life, not his death.

Unlike the other two quotes, life in this passage is not an expression of speech used to draw attention or cause persuasion, but instead here life is a Freudian slip of something Gloucester may subconsciously be aware of. It is also a way to describe sanity.

Act IV, Scene IV

Cordelia

These words are exchanged between Cordelia and the Doctor before France goes to war with England. She is speaking with the doctor about her father’s insanity.

CORDELIA All blest secrets,

 All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,

 Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate

 In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;

 Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

 That wants the means to lead it.

This passage details out Cordelia's love for her father, and her want for nature to heal him of his insanity.

What's interesting about the use of life in this situation is how life is being taken over by his rage and insanity. It creates a comparison between life and sanity, as if life cannot exist without sanity.

The use of life in this context is similar to the way Gloucester used life.  Cordelia uses it as a way to discern sanity from insanity.

Although the word life is used to represent itself towards the beginning of the novel, as the two sisters begin to make their moves for power, the use and meaning of life changes. In the early stages of the play the word life is used as a means of persuasion, collateral for what the characters are saying or commanding, but after the introduction of the storm, and the banishment of Lear the word life takes on a whole new meaning. As the storm continues the word life no longer is just the amount of time someone lives, but begins to detail their state of mind, and quality of life. Life becomes representative of a person's sanity, and as the sanity is lost he begins to be referred to as dead, or he is depicted with a” dissolving” life. 

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Oedipus Rex is a play based entirely off fear. Not only is the main theme from this play to fear and respect the gods, but fear is what depicts Oedipus' fate. It is when, " 'An oracle reported to Laios once... that his doom would be death at the hands of his own son-his son, born of his flesh and [Iokaste]!'" It was also foreseen that this child would marry his mother, Iokaste, so the King, "had pierced the baby's ankles and left him to die on a lonely mountainside." Fear of Oedipus' potential took over their minds and controlled the couple when they "decided" Oedipus' fate; however, as we know Oedipus in fact did not die, but in turn was adopted by the King and Queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope. One day after words from a drunkard Oedipus visits the oracle distraught over who his birth parents truly are, when the oracle spoke of wretchedness. The oracle wailed that Oedipus, "should be [his] father's murderer." Oedipus, fearing the worst, attempted to escape this dreadful fate and fled to the city of Thebes, where he inevitably killed his father and married and had kids with his mother. Regardless of what you believe fate is, or if it even exists, it is undeniable Oedipus, Laios, and Iokaste made their crossroad decisions out of fear, and this ultimately led to tragedy.

And So It Begins...

Why do we let fear control us? What enables some of us to overcome it? This question is of interest to me because I feel this is becoming a very prevalent issue. In a country formed over the principle of freedom we sure are relinquishing it quickly. I believe the reason we are doing so is out of fear. Humans have always feared the unknown and ironically freedom is the unknown. Freedom allows an individual to make his/her own choices, but all those around him/her don’t know that choice. This fear of others emerges especially through terrorism. Back in the 1930’s plane flyers never had security checkpoints, they never experienced a metal detector, or even an x ray machine. Flashback just four or five years ago, x rays were used on carryon luggage but to make a person walk through one just to board the plane was unheard of.  This increase in security is due to famous failed terrorist attempts such as the “Underwear Bomber”. Of course the main issue all started with September 11, 2001 when planes flew into the World Trade Centers, and the Pentagon killing around 3,000 people (CBS). The death of .001% of Americans lead to the USA PATRIOT Act which dramatically lowered the restrictions on intelligence gathering agencies, enabling the government to spy on its citizens in order to keep them “safer.” The TSA employs covert testers and 70% of these mock bombs get onto the planes (The Economist). By letting our fears get the better of us, Americans have relinquished our freedom but for what cost? Are we really safer? Personally when I go through airports I opt out of the x ray machine and get the full body pat down. Yes it takes more time and sure it’s a little more personal and invasive but 20 years down the road I may be the one without the radiation poisoning, I will not carry the symbol of American’s submission to fear.

One work I’ve read in another class that pertains to my big question is Beowulf. In Beowulf the villagers are controlled by the fear of the monster Grendel, it is only the man with no fear who can defeat him (Beowulf). Ironically, this man with no fear also has excessive pride or hubris. Is this arrogance the only way to have no fear, by thinking nothing can hurt you? Later on in the novel as Beowulf ages he begins losing his hubris, but not his courage. Yet another monster resurfaces and comes to terrorize a village after its treasure was stolen. Beowulf now without excessive arrogance still goes into battle, knowing he will most likely die, without fear.

There are numerous movies, songs, and magazine articles that relate to my big blog question but my favorite one is Batman. In Batman Bruce Wayne must conquer his childhood fear of bats in order to become Batman. Not only does he conquer his own fear but he spreads his own by choosing the symbol of the bat because bats always scared him so he wanted to strike that same fear into the hearts of criminals. In the second movie, The Dark Knight the Joker is the epitome of using fear. Even in his monologues to people such as Gamble and Rachel Dawes he is attempting to instill fear into them just for his own enjoyment. He also plays mind games with the public such as blowing up hospitals if certain people aren’t killed, killing people until Batman turns himself in, and rigging two ferries to be blown up by the other. He instills fear into the public to the point where they try to turn in Batman, their only hope.