The_Greatest_Show_of_Strength_Is_to_Resist_Temptation’._Do_You_Agree_

In everyday life, we are always surrounded by temptation. Temptation can be defined as something which tempts or attracts, whereas strength can be defined as courage, power or spirit. Resisting temptation is not easy, but through different people like Oskar Schindler and Leonard Mead, we are able to see that greed and temptation can be resisted to show the true strength in one’s self. In the Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler is initially seen as a man driven above all by profit, and happy to confess that war, cheap slave labour and a corrupt system are a financial bonanza for him, but then through the scenes of the killings of countless innocent Jews, Schindler adopts the idea of using his power for the greater good. In order to rescue the Jews, Schindler had forfeited his fortune and resisted the temptation of using his profit for selfish means. He uses his power and position in the war not to gain shipping trunks full of money, but to stop the shipping trunks full of corpses, which, in return, he saves the lives of over a thousand Jews. His decision to resist the money that could have been gained from exploiting cheap labour had consequently given Schindler the chance to express his inner compassion and virtue and to show that he is indeed powerful. In the text The Pedestrian, Leonard Mead is shown to be a character that stands out from the majority. Mead enjoys walking through the city during the night, something which no one else does. As he walks on the silent streets alone at night, he listens to the people who are all home bounded, watching television. He has resisted the temptation of watching television inside like everyone else and instead, decided to take a walk, which the police find bizarre. His decision to abandon the technology that has enslaved the rest of the population clearly shows how powerful he is as he is not under the influence of television. Mead resisting the temptation to fall into the hands of technology truly shows how powerful he is in comparison to everyone else. Likewise to Oskar Schindler, Bill Gates has also resisted temptation for the greater good. Recently, Bill Gates and his wife had pledged to donate at least half of their wealth to charity. Not just Gates, but 40 of America’s richest people have decided to donate their wealth to people who are not as well off, which is estimated to be about 115 billion dollars. His decision not to spend this money on himself clearly shows a philanthropic man who has exerted his money to help the greater good. This charitable deed clearly shows a sign of strength and power, as his wealth evidently indicates a man of great power which has been put into good use. His choice to resist temptation to spending his fortune on himself shows strength and courage in him. As seen in various characters including Oskar Schindler, Leonard Mead and Bill Gates it can be seen that resistance of greed and enticement shows the greatest strength in one’s self. Though resisting temptation may appear hard, it can be understood that it can be evaded through the characters mentioned above. Ultimately, the greatest show of strength is to not fall into the hands of temptation, but to resist it instead.