Witness: Essay

Persuasive Essay Witness Our separate idiosyncratic identities are shaped by our interpretations of our indian lodges ideals and determine. As individuals, we ring in our personalities and actions by what we hear and see in the media, and through what we deplete ascertained personally in the realness in general. Having an experience of our societys rules, we are able to make informed decisions and choices by the honourable and moral concerns that we are bound by. Despite this, when moving from one expanse to a nonher, we may be confronted by a divers(prenominal) system with discrete and perhaps seemingly unusual sets of principles.If this is indeed the case, this would be reflected by the different tribe in the coun essay as a whole compared to our avow. In order for unity and harmony to flourish between these two countries, giveing super C ground is essential, or if this is not possible than an acknowledgement of some of their ideals and determine and the abandonment of some of ours is necessary. However, in doing this we are losing our original identity. In the film, Witness, order by Peter Weir, an Amish widow, Rachel Lapp, and her young son, Samuel, depart for Balti more(prenominal) to visit their relative.They take a break in a rail sort station in Philadelphia and Samuel, in his need to explore and understand the new world he is surrounded by, take offs wondering alone in his need to belong. In the mens toilets, he is a witness to a murder and is traumatized by it. Evidently, it changes him and his views of the world are forever altered. When he is confronted by another Amish named Eli, he is asked a series of questions leading up to as to whether he would ever knock off a man. Samuel replies to this question by stating, nly the bad men. Clearly, this emphasizes the change seen in Samuel through his interactions with others outside the Amish community. This put forwards that in general, the need to belong and the people we are influe nced and surrounded by can have some significant impacts modify who we become. Similarly, the need to blend in and belong can change the record of an individual for the better. This is particularly seen in Witness when a cop named tail end Book is forced to flee his home when faced with danger.He breaks his ties and lives with the Amish in hideout to protect himself as closely as Samuel, a call witness to a murder, along with his mother. During the period that John spends with the Amish he begins to tell their way of life and grows an appreciation for it. This is indicated when he starts to dress like the Amish. When he does this for the first time, he asks Rachel whether he looks Amish. Rachel replies by commenting, You look plain. Further prove of his acceptance, is when John takes up carpentry and helps with the barn raising.Through these actions, later he is finally accepted by Eli this is supported when he warns John when triad dangerous looking men come to see him. Joh ns visit to the Amish community changes him. Some may argue that it is not the group we belong to that defines who we are. In fact, they may try to reassure us that it is further our individual actions that instigate who we become. This may be particularly true in matters where the need for someone to belong to is denied by their biological family. However, it cannot be taken as a rule in general and is rarely the case.As put forward by Maslows hierarchy of necessitate, our search for a group to interact and be part of is essential before feelings of self-assertion and self-actualization can be met. For our needs to be met we would not try to establish relationships with those who we have nothing in everyday or loathe. We are more likely to form bonds to those who resemble us most and share common interests with. It is only when these ties are broken that we feel more susceptible of whatever danger looming our way and immediately we form new relations with a more different gr oup.To fit in, this may require the adjustments of our own personality since every group has their own special and unique identity to begin with. In the case of both Samuel and John a change was observed in their identities as they migrated from one area to another to suit the needs of their particular environments. This change would have enabled them to more likely survive if they were to permanently live in such places. The clashing of ideals and values held by the Amish were not exactly intertwined with the principles of city living.For this reason a change was observed in the behaviours of both Samuel and John. However, one might ask, what would be the case for the exceptions? What about for the people who take no recognition in their own rules and despite everything try to break every single one of them? Would they fit snugly well in place with a completely different set of ideals and values? In this society would they be seen as the respective citizens? Who knows? Clearly it is sonorous to imagine such a place so different to our own but one thing is certain, a societys way of living is what defines every individual who is part of it.