<p>Could you grade my essay and let me know what grade range I can expect? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Prompt: Can knowledge be a burden rather than a benefit?</p>
<p>Knowledge can be a burden rather than a benefit, because there are somethings that we would not want to know, or could threaten our safety. Examples from literary works and history demonstrate that sometimes it is better to be left in ignorance. </p>
<p>In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is looking for the murderer of King Laius, the king that proceeded him. A profit tells Oedipus that he is the murderer, and he slept with his mother, but Oedipus refuses to believe him and continues his search for the murderer. By piecing together multiple accounts from various people, Oedipus discovers that he actually was the murderer. Striken by grief and shame, Oedipus stabs his eyes out and begs to be exiled. The fate of Oedipus demonstrates that sometimes it is better not to know the truth, because it can drive a person to madness.</p>
<p>Galileo Galilei also demonstrates that knowledge can be a burden rather than a benefit. Galileo backed heliocentrism, a theory started by Nicolaus Copernicus that said the planets revolved around a stationary sun, rather than the other way around. When Galileo published his book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, which proclaimed heliocentrism was truth and attacked the church, he was put on trial by the Inquisition. He was found "vehemently suspect of heresey", and ordered to withdraw his opinions and book. When Galileo refused, he was sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life. We now of course know that Galileo was right, and this demonstrates that knowledge is a burden. The knowledge of heliocentrism led to Galileo's persecution.</p>
<p>Socrates also shows how knowledge can be a burden. He was a prominent and influential Greek philosopher. In a famous story, Socrates set out to test how wise prominent Greek politicians, poets, and artisans really were. Each though they were extremely wise, which led Socrates to conclude that they were not wise at all. However, this knowledge would lead to Socrates' downfall. He was found guilty of corrupting the minds of Greek's youth, and sentenced to death. Like Galileo, Socrates was persecuted for his knowledge, which demonstrates that knowledge is not always a good thing.</p>
<p>After a careful analysis of Oedipus Rex, Galileo Galilei, and Socrates, knowledge can indeed be a burden rather than a benefit. Without their knowledge, Oedipus, Galileo, and Socrates never would have been led to their downfalls.</p>