Argumentative Essay On The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead; A Different View on Society
Today’s world has a fascination with zombies. There are stories about these undead creatures; from Dawn of the Dead and Resident Evil, to more comedic or romantic versions like Zombieland and Warm Bodies. However, there is one portrayal of an apocalyptic world that stands out above the rest. You have probably heard of a TV series called The Walking Dead. This series has received lots of attention and has grown to have a large cult following today. Why do so many people like this show? The answer is that this show is about more than just killing and running from zombies. This show explores important concepts and ideologies, like family, trust, hope, humanity ad so much more. One thing the show does is allow us to explore the effects society, and lack
there of, have on people. We can examine two of the main characters, Rick and Daryl, to prove that the structure of todays society molds us into people that may not really be who we are at our core.
If we look at Rick’s progression through the first 6 seasons, we will find that without the rules and structure of civilization Ricks entire character changes. Granted, to say he has been through a lot is an understatement. He woke up from a coma to the end of the world, lost his wife, lost his best friend, lost his home, and has to constantly worry about the safety of his son, daughter, and the group, other survivors he has teamed up with. Nevertheless, this is only further proof that a battle between nature and nurture exist. The situation Rick was put in changed important aspects of his personality, but his core values are revealed and have not been altered.
Before the zombies or “walkers” took over the world Rick was a county sheriff. Details about his past were not explicitly stated but we can assume he grew up in a good home, went to a good high school and college. We know he married his high school sweetheart Lori. Rick seemed to have it all, friends, family, and a great job. I would attribute the life he had to society, where he had exactly what was expected of him. It is almost a cliché. We live in a nation were success is defined by our career, how much money we make, where we live, and our relationship status. Our lifestyles are primarily influenced by our culture. Still, Rick’s job was a part of his identity. Before and after the apocalypse he is in a position of authority, because it is in his nature to be a leader. As a sheriff the community looked up to him, he had a responsibility to serve and protect people. Unfortunately, when these police values are put to the test they cannot endure without the structure of society. Rick tries to hold on the idea that he can save everyone, but he quickly finds that he cannot. In the first season he stands by his moral code. He puts his life at risk to help other survivors. He retains the idea that all life is valuable. In season two he safes the life of a boy who is potentially a threat to the group. All of the characters, including Rick, struggle with idea that they may have to kill the boy for the good of the group. In later seasons Rick kills anyone he perceives as a threat without a second thought. In season five episode eleven, a stranger, Aaron, comes to help the group and shows no malicious intent, but Rick is unwilling to listen to him and immediately wants to kill him. If Michonne, Daryl, and Glenn had not stepped in and wrestled the gun out of Ricks hands, Aaron would have been killed.
Rick has changed a lot during his story. He has become a hardened and brutal character, but at the end of the world we find out what is most important to people, and what’s most important to rick is family. From the moment he woke up from his coma all he cared about was finding his wife and son. Eventually, his family expanded and became the group, other survivors, people from all different back grounds who rely and on each other and care very deeply for one another. No matter what decisions Rick made or how crazy he acted he always did what he though was best for the group. He was not always right but he had good intentions. All that he was, his rules and values, slowly crumbled away until all he has left is survival and family.
Then there is Daryl, His transformation is almost the opposite of Ricks. He had a much more difficult life before the apocalypse. Daryl had neglectful parents. His father was abusive and an alcoholic. His mother was a smoker and an alcoholic, who died in a house fire when he was young. He was raised by his older brother, Merle, who was often in and out of Juvenile detention facilities. So, Daryl learned how to fend for himself. The world treated him as a stupid, worthless nobody, so that’s what he became. No one ever came to help him out of his situation. He relied solely on himself, making him rough, ragged, and a loner. Society branded him an outcast with no chance to improve his life. All he ever had was the will to survive. His skills of survival were considered useless in the pre-apocalypse world. He had nothing of true value to offer that could benefit society. So, when the world started to go downhill he welcomed the change. In a place where everyone are equals, fighting and running for there lives, Daryl flourished.
At first he continued in his old habits of self-reliance and didn’t get close to anyone.
Throughout season one, he played the tough guy who didn’t care about anyone else. Slowly, he began to open up. In season two we discovered that Daryl had a caring and sensitive side. He showed true concern for the safety of Carol’s daughter, Sophia. He endlessly searches for her when she is separated form the group and tries his best to comfort Carol. He soon becomes close friends with Rick, Carol, and Beth. For the first time in his life he had a family. The group depends on him and he depends on the group. He transitioned form a lowlife that everyone looked down upon to a remodel and a well respected member of the group. Without the confines of society’s expectations, we find that he is full of potential. We also know he has good values, one of them being people’s lives. In the fifth season when Rick believes they should stop looking for people to help and add to the group, Daryl disagrees. He continues to go out to save people even at the risk of his own life. Daryl was always a good guy at his core, but it was not until the world ended that he was given the opportunity to show
it.
Many people are curious about the concept of nature verse nurture. Scientists, phycologists and many others have studied and tested this theory. Although it may be an extreme example, The Walking Dead is a TV series that is a great illustration of how society effects our lives. We can look at the actions of the characters to determine that the environment we are placed in, how we a nurtured, has a greater impact than our personal nature. It is very clear that the characters Rick and Daryl changed due to the lack of structure in society. Without laws and rules Rick was changed for the worse. He went from the embodiment of justice and righteous to a ruthless killer, who on multiple occasions lost touch with his humanity. In contrast Daryl’s life improved. He was originally perceived as a thug, but became a noble man. It is impossible to determine if the current structure of society is good or bad. The problem is that there is no perfect system for everyone. It is important to acknowledge these restrictions placed upon us by culture in society, and be aware of the possible effects the world can have on our disposition. It is difficult to change the status quo, but not imposable.