Farewell To Manzanar: Power

Power

What is power? For generations many political leaders have gained and lost power. In the book Lord of the flies, children of the island gain power through fear, whereas in the novel Farewell to Manzanar, power lied in the U.S army keeping japanese americans captive. French revolutionist Maximilien Robespierre, struck fear into the hearts of many during the reign of terror, and the Estates system held power in different classes. the first and Second estates were the higher class, while the third estate was the “working poor”. As shown, there are many forms of power, yet are all based around the same idea, control. Oxford Dictionaries defines the word power as “ The capacity or ability to direct
or influence
The behaviors of others or the course of events.” This in turn means, authority over a person or many people to sway emotions and thoughts throughout the course of time. In 1789 The estates system was used in the france to distinguish between the high and the low classes. The high class (the first and second estate) had the good life, while down in the lower class (third estate) many struggled to survive. The third estate worked to pay taxes that the high class used to continue enjoying their luxurious life style. But the third estate had enough, so they started a revolution and overthrew the high class. This ties in well with the novel Farewell to Manzanar. During the 1940s american ships in pearl harbor had been attacked by japanese bomber planes, This caused the US government to create japanese internment camps for potential “spies”. Thousands of japanese families were placed into these internment camps all across america, Including the wakatsuki family. Power was taken from families of japanese descent, and japanese Americans just had to let it happen. This form of power shifting was almost instant. Japanese Americans went from a normal life in America, to a life of imprisonment. Even when released there was much prejudice and haterid towards people of japanese descent. (quote from the book bus stop part). (detailed analysis). Power is manifested in many ways, through people, or organized groups, that use this power to control one or many people. How do people gain power?
Many influential leaders use fear. fear is one of the most commonly used tactic for power. on the 6th of april 1793, the committee of public safety was created. nine members of the french government were chosen to deal with the problems of the french people. The committee dealt with the french people in a fearful manner. Any french man, woman, or child that was unhappy of the french revolution was to be imprisoned and executed, and a man by the name of Maximilien Robespierre was at the head of these executions. Maximilien started what was most famously known as the reign of terror, and he disguised his acts by saying that people who disobeyed were “enemies of the revolution”. This message of fear is well conveyed in William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. Jack and Ralph are fighting for leadership (power) over the group of boys. But Jack uses fear tactics to scare the children into believing that he is the only source of protection against the beast. (quote from the book). In both of these situations fear is used in similar ways, striking fear into people to force them to obey order. While Jack uses his experience and skill as a way to “protect” the the group from the beast of the island. fear allows the feared to rule without having their ideas or actions challenged. But even when fear is implemented, powerful rulers almost always
fall. power shifting from one person to another usually means that the current form of governing power is no longer working as it used too. When situations like this happen, there is always a new form of power that comes to replace it. In Jeanne Wakatsuki’s Farewell to Manzanar, the American government have authority over the japanese Americans living in internment camps. After the japanese were released from these camps they lost all the power and ownership over their belongings, as they were sold of when they were placed in the camps. Jeanne wakatsuki’s family had to start over again. This example of power shifting is just like the estates system of france. The third estate overthrew the high class creating what we now know as the french revolution, this massively shifted power in france, the roles were completely reversed.. To have power is to have control of one or many people in different places or circumstances. Such as in William Golding’s lord of the flies, where jack is chosen as leader, and the group of boys follow him into savagery. Or like Maximilien Robespierre’s rise and fall of power.