This week we started reading The Crucible. The end of Act One tells of Abigail and Betty accusing many others of witchcraft. But why? After all, weren't they friends with some of the people they were accusing?Our class began to discuss motives, at first specifically relating to The Crucible, and then motives in general. Crimes are usually committed because of a person's want for money, or revenge, or because of ambition, or love. As I read the Winnetka Talk Police Blotter, I saw crimes, such as theft, that clearly pointed to a want for money. Other crimes, like vandalism, could be for revenge, or even power, if the vandalism is graffiti that points something out about its artist.
But people are not just motivated to commit crimes; they're motivated to do other actions as well. For example, my motive for writing on my blog with pajamas on and in my bed is due to laziness. My motive for never missing school and working hard on my homework is that I want to do well in all of my classes. My motive for going to church is that it's expected of me by my parents and I am striving to learn more so that I can be a better Christian. Everything that a person does is because of something they want, or need, or are told to do. What's your motive?
Liesel- This is a very interesting topic. Personally I can't think of anything anyone does that doesn't have modivation behind it. If someone isn't modivated to do their homework,it means that they have some sort of modivation to do something else. Also, I think a lot of crimes are commited not out of want but out of desperation. In my mind, someone will first try to steal food before they let themselves starve.
ReplyDeleteI also think this relates a lot to the topic of stress in the North Shore/New Trier. This topic of discussion was brought up because of the film, Race to Nowhere, a movie that talks about stress in young people's lives. I think the things that motivate us to do well in school are the things that end up stressing us the most.
ReplyDeleteLiesel,
ReplyDeleteLOVE the title of your blog by the way! So creative. Also, I like this post. It made me reflect on my motives in life. Some are similar to what you said, laziness, desire to be a better person etc. Yet, not all motives are positive. You mentioned vandalism with the motive of revenge. It got me thinking...could criminal acts be done with positive motives? I think yes. Seems contradictory but its definitely possible.
I like how your blog stresses the importance of motives. I agree with Alex that everything requires some sort of motivation, whether it have a positive or negative effect.