Merit L3 Writing Essay Paea Ahokava

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at the back of my English class. Our teacher was blabbering on about his life story and how he sees the world in different spectacles from teenager’s today. Not having a clue what this old fragile man was talking about, I slammed my head on the desk, yelling for the bell to hurry up and ring. I slammed the solid skull of mine so hard it caused a small concussion. While in this world of non-existence, I questioned what this teacher was talking about. It made me wonder, how were outsiders treated through generations? Many thoughts rushed through my concussed brain, like how Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, has anything changed in relation to outsiders or has society been the same from then till now?

In the western world, Jesus is known as the centre of Christianity. He is worshipped by millions, throughout the world, and respected by more. Accounts were written about the torture and mockery that he endured, which led to His crucifixion at Calvary. But how was it, that His own people did not accept him? How was it that His society deemed him to be a somewhat visionary man? Society influences people’s behavior and their values, either consciously or unconsciously. The Jews didn’t accept him to be the Messiah because they were waiting for someone to come in full glory, not a carpenter’s son. During his time, society was narrow-minded and could not accept change or a different way of viewing life. Society believed that had everything that they needed, but he had come to disrupt the peace.

Evident through Shakespearean literature, the same theme of outsiders still occurs during this period. One of Shakespeare most well known plays, Othello, features a main character called Othello. He marries a rich, beautiful young lady against her father’s wishes, due to him being of a lower stature. Othello, who had come from a completely different society, did not understand the ways of the Venetians. Therefore he searched to find friends that could help him adjust and guide him through his journey. But instead this society had deceived and manipulated him. They too were narrow-minded and could not accept this new person into their society. Instead they took advantage of this “Moor” for their own personal gain. Othello was blind to see that a society full of good could turn on him. This made him confused and led him into the wrong path and at the end he sadly killed himself because of a selfish act of society.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” directed by Milos Forman, was released during the 1960’s. It reveals how outsiders were neglected and cast away by society. We see this when R.P McMurphy is taken into the mental institute, since they think he is crazy, after doing time in prison for statuary rape. Therefore, McMurphy acts crazy because what society implies of those taken to mental institutions. McMurphy influences the other patients by treating them like normal human beings. This arouses emotions and conflicts that lead into danger and serious consequences. We come to this conclusion when McMurphy and the boys break out of the institute and set off on a fishing trip. This was a warning for more danger to come. McMurphy sees these men as normal, everyday people while, on the other hand, Nurse Ratchet treats these men like how society desires them to be treated. By speaking politely, treating them with respect and lowering their vocabulary and brain power to meet society’s convention of treating mental patients. These boys disapproved of this orthodox method, so they take a stand on what they believe. It shows how society thinks negatively about special people and downgrading their belonging on the human scale. Everyone wants to be treated equally and not to have his or her status lowered by society

Ten years prior to the release of Milos Forman’s movie, 1000 kilometers across the world, James Baxter expressed his emotions about how Society treats outsiders, during the 1960s, in New Zealand. Baxter expressed his emotions through the use of poems. The Maori Jesus emphasizes how Society treats outsiders. He used metaphors, alluding to the original Jesus, to make you and I think of how we would react to this Maori Jesus. Eventually the Maori Jesus was lobotomized due to an arrogant society. This reenacts the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary. We see how Society has not changed, we would think after so many years we would learn from the past. Today nothing has gone into the thick skulls of society. We as a society are stubborn to accept change. We have to learn to accept different cultures, religions and sex to build a strong and unified society. We have to accept cultures that eat dogs, we have to accept Asians, even though they can’t drive, they will do your homework. If we love one another Baxter leaves us with a promise “…our sins as old as mountains will melt into the air”. When we accept everyone for who they are, instead of making everyone the same, we will make this society will be more prosper.


A fountain of water splashed across my face. I slowly open my eyes trying hard to gather my thoughts together. Once I recollected myself, I looked around; my peers were all laughing with amusement. I was right; nothing has changed through generation. So how could this man think he sees the world in different spectacles from us today? He saw how Jesus was treated and denied by society, how Othello faced his doom because of society and how Society were ashamed of outsiders so they cast them out of their communities. As they were all laughing I finally knew how it felt to be an outsider. I wanted to do anything to be accepted again. But I knew its better to be loved for who you are, than to be loved for who your not. They all love me. I think?