<p>Just post it here or link me to your forum.</p>
<p>PROMPT: Is conscience a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power?</p>
<p>Some people believe conscience is a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power. This proves to be false, as shown in numerous literary works, including The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Macbeth by Shakespeare, and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The characters in these works base many of their actions on money, power, or fame even if it meant going against their conscience.</p>
<p>As demonstrated in The Crucible, a play based off the Salem Witch Trials, the main character Abigail Williams leads the false accusations of witchcraft against the townspeople in order to put her in a position of power and get attention from her strict Puritan elders. These false accusations lead to the death of many innocent men and women who have done no wrong against her. Her actions illustrate that she ignored her conscience and sent many to their deaths for her own gain.</p>
<p>Furthermore, in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the title character Macbeth becomes filled with depravity after hearing of the three witches' prophecy that he will someday become King of Scotland. He eventually ignores his conscience and along with his wife the Lady Macbeth plots to kill the king in order to fulfill the prophecy. Immediately after killing the king, he becomes fearful of the consequences but once he is crowned the new king, he ignores these thoughts and kills all those that suspect or oppose him in order to maintain his position, reputation, and wealth. </p>
<p>Moreover, in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the renowned clergyman of the town, Arthur Dimmesdale, secretly committed adultery with Hester Prynne, who has become an outsider becomes of her sin. Dimmesdale does not reveal that he is equally guilty despite his conscience killing him because he wants to hold on to his name and power. Thus he lets his conscience eat away at him and keeps his status until more than seven years after.</p>
<p>After a careful analysis of these works by Arthur Miller, William Shakespeare, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, one can, indeed, see that power, fame, and wealth often influence and motivate people more than their conscience does. People will often do what will benefit themselves rather than do what is right.</p>