<p>Prompt: A sense of the past is an essential part of our identity. The past is in many respects a foreign country, but on the premise that travel broadens the mind, this is all the more reason to go there. Adapted from Rosamond McKitterick, History and its Audiences</p>
<p>Assignment: Do we need knowledge of the past to fully understand the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, and observations</p>
<p>An ancient proverb states, "The present is esoteric to all who do not have a clear understanding of the past." If we do not study and understand our history, the present will be complete confusion. It is an idiosyncrasy among the human race to be given the ability to understand and thus learn from our past. Without this knowledge of the past, complete understanding of the present will be anything but lucid. This can be examined through the work of Arthur Miller in the play, "Death of a Salesman," and through the work of Pierre Trudeau while in the midst of the Quebec Referendum of 1980. </p>
<p>Arthur Miller's scintillating play, "Death of a Salesman," highlights this notion. The reader is introduced to the tragic character Willy Lohman and forms an initial understanding of the character. It is easy to see initially that Willy has lived vicariously though his son, Biff, and when Biff is unsuccessful Willy is led to a tragic decline. This leads the reader to blame Biff for Willy's downfall. However, near the end of the composition, the reader learns about an affair WIlly had in the past which Biff catches him in the midst of. This incident leads Biff to have pessimistic views towards his father and eliminates the drive he once had to impress his father with his success. Without this knowledge, the reader cannot fully understand the actions of the characters present in the play.</p>
<p>Another epitome of this notion is present in Pierre Trudeau's works. Trudeau, the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada, is famous for his handling of the Quebec Separation Act. In 1980, Quebec held a referendum to separate from Canada. Trudeau, being a federalist, opposed this notion. Trudeau is quoted as saying, "I looked back through history to find the solution to the present." Trudeau basically looked over past issues with the French Canadians, and came up with a solution for the present problem. He officially made Canada bilingual, instituted the French Rights Act, and gave French Canadians the insular characteristics that they so desperatly loathed. Through this, it is obvious that the past provided him with answers for the present. </p>
<p>It is extremely evident that the past plays a pivitol role in the understanding of the present. This is highlighted through the works of Arthur Miller and Pierre Trudeau. As Rosmand Mickitterick once said, "This past is in many respects a foreign country, but on the premise that travel broadens the mind, this is all the more reason to go there.</p>