“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
If you walk the destructive path of narrow-mindedness, it will only lead you to a DEAD end.
Narrow-mindedness is the act of being prejudiced and the inability to take in another’s perspective. This type of behavior has been ingrained in our society throughout centuries, from the persecution of “witches” in the Renaissance Era to the judgmental fake news we consume on social media in this modern era. Narrow-mindedness is an intolerant behavior that demonstrates a lack of empathy and highlights how ignorance in searching for the truth can be catastrophic. This judgmental path never leads to the right destination.
One notable piece of English literature that highlights the issue of bias and lack of empathy is William Shakespeare’s Othello, where many characters discriminate against others, which ultimately affects their judgment. For example, Iago’s ability to manipulate the senator, Brabantio, illustrates his prejudice against Othello’s race and abilities. Comparing Othello to an “old black ram” or a “Barbary horse” insinuates a sense of racism against Othello by emphasizing his darker skin tone and ethnicity. Furthermore, this quote describes Othello savagely, contrasting with his role as a refined and sophisticated general. This sense of underlying racism and lack of compassion permeates into Brabantio’s perception of his daughter’s marriage to Othello. Thus, Brabantio’s biased viewpoint prevents him from acknowledging Othello as a respectable and prime candidate as his son-in-law.
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Along the lines of racism leading to stereotypes, women have also been the victims of misogyny throughout the centuries. Women during 15th-17th century Europe faced discrimination due to their gender. The stereotype that a woman did not have the capacity to be educated resulted in the lack of equal educational opportunities for women. In addition, women were expected to bear children and care only for their husbands. Hypocritically, women were held to a higher standard of conduct compared to men. For instance, men were not charged for adultery compared to women, who were killed for this act. These ideas have sparked the concept of “Honor Killings” where partners or family members could kill a woman if they were perceived to have committed adultery. Georgia Dopico Black, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literature, mentions in her book that European society established “that wives had to obey their husbands, while husbands had the power to send them to solitary confinement for adultery” but if a “man caught his wife in the act of adultery and killed her, he was excused by law.” This unfair persecution of women demonstrates how narrow-mindedness can lead to horrific crimes. Also, this lack of empathy and understanding of the female perspective results in male dominance over women in a patriarchal society.
Referring back to Shakespeare’s Othello, a misogynistic character portrayed in the play would be Othello, the main character himself. Throughout the play, Othello is manipulated by Iago into believing that Desdemona cheated on him with his best mate, Cassio. Reeling in shock, Othello decides to punish Desdemona for her “actions” without proof. Through this, Othello assumes that Desdemona “must die, else she’ll betray more men” and considers Desdemona a “cunning whore of Venice.” These ruthless accusations are made using Othello’s mindless assumptions and ignorance of the true lies behind Iago’s manipulation. Othello judges Desdemona with a guilty verdict without allowing Desdemona the due process of proving her innocence. As a result of Othello’s narrow-mindedness, he travels down the regrettable path of murder in the name of so-called “honor.”
Narrow-mindedness can present in the form of a lack of empathy and understanding. Narrow-mindedness can also shut the door of communication within familial relationships. Dead Poet’s Society is a 1989 film based on the coming of age of a group of high school students at a fictional boarding school known as Welton Academy. One of the main characters, Neil Perry, is an aspiring young actor who enjoys expressing his individuality. Since conformity is one of the most emphasized aspects of the boarding school, Neil wants to find a way to break free from these confinements. By establishing a secret poetry club dedicated to considerably “radical” poetry, and receiving a monumental acting role in a play, Neil finds his individuality…
Until his father enters the story.
Throughout the movie, the two individuals do not see eye-to-eye regarding Neil’s future and dreams. Mr. Perry wants Neil to attend Harvard to practice medicine and ignores Neil’s aspirations. Contradictory, Neil wants to pursue an acting career where he can focus on his interests.
After Neil’s beautiful and whimsical performance as Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, his father immediately removes Neil from the boarding school to send him to a military academy. This would ensure that Neil can not be involved in acting nor associate with his friends at the Dead Poet’s Society. As a result of Mr. Perry’s disregard for his son’s personal hopes and dreams, Neil falls into a state of despair and takes his own life that very day. It was a heartbreaking scene to see the highs and lows of Neil’s short life. The father and the son never open the door of communication, and their paths diverge, leading to a catastrophic ending.
Narrow-mindedness can lead to misunderstanding, discrimination, and even regret. Prejudice today can be seen in the forms of racism, classism, ageism, and sadly much more. Through the tragic examples of Othello and Dead Poets Society, we can view the catalysts of many preventable outcomes as a result of lack of communication and personal biases. The prejudice of Brabancio, the spiraling of Othello, and the sudden death of Neil further pinpoint the pitfalls of narrow-mindedness leading to destruction. The ability to be open-minded and experience new viewpoints can influence your perspective on life.
Open up your mind to find a better path where all roads lead to a good ending.
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