Human civilization has had a long journey since the ancient days to date when people continue to hold different opinions and outlooks on the world. These differences can be linked to attributes such as power, politics and religion among others. Different people believe in the existence of boundaries between them and others based on their differences in beliefs and status in the society. Owing to these, conflicts have always existed where one religion fights for dominance over others or where a particular class of people fight for dominance over other classes. This paper analyzes the happenings in two different films, Lawrence of Arabia and Motorcycle Diaries to establish how these differences in societal attributes have shaped the current day life and what experiences are actually encountered by people.

Discussion

Tribe, religion, social status and political ideologies are some of the factors that continually divide people across the world. However, it may be noted that these people may trace a common background up to a certain time in history. Some may have lived harmoniously in the same villages for centuries while others may have participated in activities involving other tribes or religions as part of their interactions of cultures. Politics and power however, may have created a rift between the once peaceful neighbors as each had to fight for dominance over the other.

Politics and power are believed to have the potential to make some people either the masters or the subjects of the other. As such, as civilization advanced and models such as capitalism came into existence, each people began to fight for their survival. In these wars, religions were pitted against religions, tribes against tribes and social classes against others. The most advantaged were those who won the war back then since their generations continue to reap the fruits of that success to date. However, there are those who continue to suffer as a result of the defeat of their ancestors in the earlier wars (Guevara & Guevara, 2003).

In the film Lawrence of Arabia, Lawrence was a British national although he had Arabic roots. At one time, he is sent by the Britons to the Arabian countries to assess how suitable it would be for the Britons to establish colonies in the Arabic countries. When he gets there, he is carried away by the interests of the Arabs in fighting Turkey. Soon, he finds himself heading the Arabic war against the Turks. He does not forget his duty although he cannot resist the fact that Arabs are at war and so he has to help out. Immediately after winning the war against the Turks, the Britons arrive to their assuming that Lawrence has just won a war against some Arabs who were against Lawrence and the Britons’ intentions. He is promoted to a colonel and escorted home (Burt, 2001); (Caton, 1999).

In Motorcycle Diaries, Ernesto Guevara and his friend Alberto Grenado take a ride through the vast South America for adventure and with intentions to work in a leper colony in Peru. While on their journey, they realize just how lucky they must be in life as most of those they meet along the way are poor and hopeless residents of villages and towns. They visit several areas within the countries they ride through including mines. To their surprise, workers in mines and farms are treated with cruelty and animosity of the highest level while their masters enjoy the finest things in life such as shelter, food and clothing. It is after this trip around South America that Guevara decides to become a revolutionary to fight for the rights of the oppressed (Burnett, 2008).

In both films, there is conflict between sides that have similar interests on a particular subject (Caton, 1999). In Lawrence of Arabia, the Britons are interested in expanding their rule into the Arabic countries and hence seek a suitable area to establish their base. The Arabians on the other hand are fighting the Turks in order to possess part of their land to increase their land area. Lawrence is used by the Britons probably due to the fact that he would face little opposition and his intentions would remain a secret since he shares an Arabic background. Hence, he is used against his own people for the benefit of the Britons as they are more interested in establishing in the Arabic countries than the fact that they used someone to betray his own people. Lawrence’s success is rewarded with a promotion to the rank of a colonel and being taken back home. This is probably done so the Arabs do not think of Lawrence as a traitor (Burt, 2001).

In Motorcycle Diaries on the other hand, a huge gap exists between the rich and the poor in South America. Guevara and Grenado even realize that there is a river that separates the villages of the well off from those of the poor leper colonies. During a visit to the colonies, people wear plastic gloves before shaking the leper’s hands. However, Guevara decides not to wear them as he wonders how inhuman people can get towards others. Some are even mistreated and punished by political authorities for holding particular political opinions while it would be expected that each person has a right to their own. Guevara decides to dedicate himself to fight for justice and equality for all people. His hopes are that he can liberate the oppressed within South America from the cruel governments of the day and through this, other parts of the world can follow and create a free and fair society where all people are treated equally (Guevara & Guevara, 2003).

Conclusion

Societies around the world are united by several factors such as religion, tribe and shared goals and aspirations. This creates a situation in which cooperation and togetherness are the key pillars and people work together in harmony. However, some people hide intentions to loot and steal from others when it is time to reap of the hard labor. As such, politics and power struggles take center stage and people turn against each other. Out of these, social classes and other means of segregation are devised where people are divided according to wealth and power hence creating the likes of the ruling class for those in power, the high class for those that are rich and the lower class for the poor. These classes are continued through generations causing a constant war as each tries to take over the other.

References

Burnett, E. (2008). History through film: Volume I. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press.

Burt, D. S. (2001). The biography book: A reader’s guide to nonfiction, fictional, and film biographies of more than 500 of the most fascinating individuals of all time. Westport, CT: Oryx Press.

Caton, S. C. (1999). Lawrence of Arabia: A film’s anthropology. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Guevara, C., & Guevara, A. (2003). The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey. New York: Ocean Press.

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