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Live by it, die by it // Ian Blair

     Call me crazy, but I would conjecture that those who use fear as a tool to achieve their goals are never actually satisfied with their work because they spend all their time being afraid of someone using their own tactics on them. Socrates in Book IX details the Tyrant's power struggle and how the tyrannical man never forges alliances or friendships due to always being weary of anyone he has not payed off to guard him and his possessions. It reminds me of when the Bible addresses that those who live by the sword will die by the sword, which basically translates to you get what you give. If someone oppresses others, then who is really the winner in that scenario? Spoiler alert, it's nobody at all!

    I remember a moment from a television series that can really put the Tyrant's struggle in perspective, and how tyranny will inevitably undo itself. Within the masterful storytelling of the third season of Transformers Prime, Megatron himself has spent the majority of a year being nothing more than a vessel host for a greater evil in the story. After he breaks his connection with the evil and retakes control of what remains of his tattered form, he has a bit of a stand-off with Optimus where he delivers a powerful punchline that really speaks volumes to the wisdom he learns over the season, "No! . . . There will be no further conflict, no further energon shed upon this rock, the Decepticons are abolished from this moment forth! . . . Because I now know the true meaning of oppression, and have thus lost my lust for inflicting it..." In the tyrant's case, he uses fear and oppression as necessary tools to rise to power, only to find that once in power there is no incentive to keep climbing. Power is not something that is a necessary evil, but rather something to is to be used in the kindness and service to others who are not fortunate enough to gain power in the first place. What do you think about the qualities of a tyrant? Is there anything that you would add?

Comments

  1. Lily CaswellOctober 15, 2020 at 7:40 AM

    “You reap what you sow” is a very applicable statement to the tyrant. I think that sometimes people become tyrants somewhat unwillingly; they get control of power and then their ambition to get more power overtakes them. I really like how you said that power is not necessarily evil. I think that because the tyrant is always stepping on other peoples toes to get what he wants, he’s constantly paranoid that someone will step on his toes (e.g. overthrowing/killing him).

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