This unit of Honor British Literature was, perhaps, one of the more eye-opening experiences I've had thus far in this course. This was the first time that I can honestly say that exploring literature in class has caused me to really question the way I view things. I consider myself to be a relatively grounded person. I have strong convictions, and I don't tend to be very surprised by most of the literature I read. However, the works I've read lately have made me start to look at things differently.
It started when I was reading chapter ten of Hobbs' Leviathan. Going into the work, I thought I had a good grasp on the concept of power. I watch the news, and am borderline politically active so I wasn't expecting to be blown away by what I found. It wasn't that anything he wrote was new information. It doesn't take much intellect to grasp how people gain and exploit power to meet their ends. What did catch me off kilter was just how much of a hold power has on our lives. The more I thought about that chapter, the more I began to see the effects of power in the world. I began to see it in everywhere. Walking down the hallways, all I could see was a web of intrigue, people vying for social positions, aching for the power to come out ahead. I know it may sound extreme, but whether people mean to or not, they are always asserting their power to be heard, to be understood, to be accepted. It occurred to me just how amazing power and influence are. That we can use our own situation to influence others is fascinating and a truly mind-boggling concept for me.
I can't explain why this had such an affect on me, but I'm glad that it did change a part of how I see the world. I can't help but think that this exploration has led me to become just a tad more aware as a person and as a student. I can only hope that I will continue to be amazed by the power of literature.
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