NCHS AP English Language

Michelle Snider's Beckwith Pawn essay

Bob Dylan and Philosophy describes Byron de la Beckwith as a pawn. It explains that Beckwith was brainwashed and, in a way, controlled. It claims that his ignorance and social status caused him to think the way he did, which in turn, caused him to kill Medgar Evers. He acted of his own will.
Even though others may have influenced Beckwith, no one could force him to do something. His status did have an effect on his way of thought, though his actions were entirely his own. For example, you are a white male applying for a job. An African American male applies for the same job and is a little less qualified than you, but he ends up getting the job because he is African American. Then, say your anger gets the best of you and you hunt the man down and shoot him. Whose fault was it that the man is now dead? It would be yours, naturally. You cannot say that the man who did not hire you compelled you to kill the African American man. It is relatively the same situation with Beckwith and Evers. Another force caused his anger but there was no excuse for his actions.
Byron de la Beckwith is not a pawn because he was not imposed to kill Medgar Evers. He was swayed because of his status, but not "brainwashed". Beckwith moved and acted of his own accord, therefore he is not a pawn.

posted by Ellen @ 1:50 PM