Friendship and Trust Showed in Books Essay Example for Free

Friendship and Trust Showed in Books Essay To Kill A Mockingbird had multiple relationships and interactions including the following; Jem and Scout, Scout and Dill, Scout and Boo Radley, and that sense of trust and well being between Atticus and Tom Robinson. Romeo and Juliet is sort of a given as an example of this theme but it adds even more to the equation, it adds love. Lastly, 12 Angry Men showed a lot of trust. In the way that the young boy must trust the Jurors to judge fairly, and how all of the other jurors must trust Juror 8s theories of innocence for the defendant. Although these four stories share different types of friendship and trust it is still just as important of a theme in all of them. The Odyssey has been dated back as far as the ninth century B. C. , yet still friendship and trust seemed to have been just as important. Arguably the most famous quote from the book is, â€Å"There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as husband and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends† (Unknown). This quote is read at weddings all the time because of what it represents. It not only represents a Good 2 perfect example of a Christian marriage, but it represents true trust and friendship as well. This second quote was said by the great Odysseus just after he heard word of his comrades being transformed into animals by a goddess At that report I slung my hefty bronze blade Of my silver-studded sword around my shoulder, Slung my bow on too and told our comrade, ‘Lead me back by the same way that you came. ’ (10, 286-290) This shows not only the valued trait of bravery, but it shows loyalty and friendship that e would knowingly risk his life to save his crewmembers. Although this book was originally written thousands of years ago, it shows trust and friendship to be just as important as it is now perceived in today’s world. 12 Angry Men only got past 5 pages because of the fact that Juror 8 trusted the defendant enough to at least give him a fair chance. The first vote count for guilty/not guilty was 11 to 1 in favor of guilty, based s olely on observations and the race of the accused party. The other Jurors didn’t trust him because of their personal prejudice. The following quote by Juror 8 shows that even our court system is based off of trust Its always difficult to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And wherever you run into it, prejudice always obscures the truth. I dont really know what the truth is. I dont suppose anybody will ever really know. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but were just gambling on probabilities we may be wrong. We may be trying to let a guilty man go free, I dont know. Nobody really can. But we have a reasonable doubt, and thats something thats very valuable in our system. No jury can declare a man guilty unless its sure. (Steinbeck 82) Juror 8 had enough trust in a man that he didn’t even know that he put himself against the rest of the jury because of some reasonable doubt. Juror 4 gave us this next quote to explain himself after he switched his vote to ‘not guilty’ This gentleman has been standing alone against us. Now he doesnt say that the boy is not guilty, he just isnt sure. Well its not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others, so he gambled for support and I gave it to him. I respect his motives. (Steinbeck 16) Good 3 Juror 4 not only trusted Juror 8’s motives in trying to find out the truth in the case. But he started a friendship which is shown again later when they exchange names after the case is concluded. Even a book such as 12 Angry Men, in which none of the characters have ever met before, shows that trust and friendship plays an important role in our every day lives. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird shows different types of friendship and trust than the past two books, yet it’s just as important in every way. When people think of friendship and trust they think of their ‘best friend’. Most don’t think of the general use of the term. Sometimes it takes a young girl such as Scout to make us realize these things, â€Å"Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between† (Lee 293). She goes on to say that Boo Radley, their neighbor, had done several nice things to them and they have failed to repay him. They had never talked in their lives yet Scout had the general sense of friendship that she felt the need to be fair and nice to everyone. The second use of the theme trust is probably the most important anyone will ever have to deal with. Atticus Finch is a lawyer defending a black man in an extremely racist county, yet he has enough pride to stand up and actually defend the man despite what the rest of the town thinks. His philosophy is as follows Theyre certainly entitled to think that, and theyre entitled to full respect for their opinions, said Atticus, but before I can live with other folks Ive got to live with myself. The one thing that doesnt abide by majority rule is a persons conscience. (Lee 114) Sure if others break your trust it is a hard thing to go through. But one’s conscience can haunt a person for what seems like an eternity. People should always trust themselves, and be confident in a decision before they make it. To Kill A Mockingbird presented types of friendship that are seldom brought to our attention, and they are just as important if not more than the types of trust shown in the two previous books. Good 4 The final novel in which friendship and trust were shown to the utmost was Romeo and Juliet. This is the tragic love tale that starts as a great friendship between two lovers with abounding trust in each other. Juliet makes it clear that trust for her is no game when. When Romeo says he swears by the moon she replies by saying Jul. O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise varies (Shakespeare Act II scene 2) If one swears by something as big and important as the moon then very few would comprehend that the moon changes so frequently. Trust is an important thing, but it must also be understood that trust being broken is not always one’s fault. There are occasions where life takes unexpected turns that change everything. Friar Lawrence played a rather large role in the love of Romeo and Juliet. The thing that some call ‘fate’ left Romeo dead because information had not reached him. Friar was left to say, â€Å"A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents† (Shakespeare Scene V Act 3). So there are times when promises and friendships can be broken because of events that are neither persons fault, so sometimes one must resort to mercy and understanding for broken trust. Romeo and Juliet shows this as well as it could possibly be shown. It’s clear that the four novels show extremely different forms of friendship and trust. Yet they all thoroughly presented aspects that are equally important in fully understanding the concepts. Whether it’s risking your life for your friend, saving a life as a Juror that trusted that the man could be innocent, trusting one’s self, or accepting the fact that sometimes things are out of your control. Trust and friendship shouldn’t be just a figment of books we read, it should be an ongoing theme in our every day lives.