preview

The Crucible Savage Vs Individual

Decent Essays

Savage or Individual? The savage has only a few defining characteristics; however, these characteristics must be distinct and present for a character to be acknowledged as the savage. First off, there are two different types of savages: the noble and the ignoble savage. The noble is peaceful, spiritual, and only kills when it feels necessary. The ignoble is the polar opposite; it is brutal, uncivilized, and kills just for the “sport” of killing. Similar to the savage, one that can also be the savage, is the individual. Individuals do not depend on others but rather support themselves and usually go against or stand apart from the rest of society. The Individual is one who realizes his morality through nature. In The Adventures of Huckleberry …show more content…

When he becomes confronted with a drug deal gone wrong, he finds the money and takes if for himself. Anton Chigurh comes to get the money, killing everyone in his way, but does not find the money where it is supposed to be. Chigurh is the ignoble savage because he kills for the sport rather than when he deems necessary. Neither Moss nor the sheriff, Bell, are savages because, when confronted with the opportunity to kill Chigurh, neither of them have the ability to. Moss stands out as an individual when he takes the money and runs from Chigurh and even Bell. However, Moss is not connected to nature which keeps him from making the moral decision. Llewelyn has the opportunity to give the money to Chigurh or not even take the money at all, but he cannot make the moral decision. Chigurh says, “You bring me the money and I’ll let her go” (Coen). Moss responds not by bringing him the money, but by refusing to bring the money and to “fight fire with fire”. Nature would allow Moss to be moral but he refuses to connect himself to nature. Huck Finn connects himself to nature, which allows him to be moral. His morality is displayed through his ability to see through skin color and help Jim escape the horrors of being an African American in nineteenth century America. Huck forms an unbreakable bond with Jim when no other man would even look at him, showing that Huck is a human rooted deeply in his own notion of morals. Llewelyn Moss is not self-reliant nor is he a moral man. Moss has many opportunities to show a good sense of morality but does not live up to the expectation. Moss is not connected to nature; therefore, he cannot be a moral

Get Access