<p>Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.People who like to think of themselves as tough-minded and realistic tend to take it for granted that human nature is selfish and that life is a struggle in which only the fittest may survive. According to this view, the basic law by which people must live is the law of the jungle. The fittest are those people who can bring to the struggle superior force, superior cunning, and superior ruthlessness.Adapted from S.I. Hayakawa, Language in Thought and </p>
<p>Action Assignment:
Do people have to be highly competitive in order to succeed? 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, or observations.</p>
<p>Without competitiveness our world may not be as successful as it is today. As demonstrated in the The Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, and the Grapes of Wrath, human beings have a natural skill to adapt and to survive. People must be competitive in order to succeed in any area or skill. </p>
<p>In the case of The Lord of the Flies, the main protagonist, Ralph, symbolizes civilization while the main antagonist, Jack, symbolizes savagery. The story begins with a group of boys who are stranded on an island. Ungoverned and immature, the boys neglect their tasks and play around all day, refusing to care for food or shelter. As a result, Ralph is nominated to become the leader but Jack is upset that the boys chose Ralph instead of him. At every given opportunity, Jack attempts to prove to the others that he is the better man and because of Jack's competitiveness, he ends up superseding Ralph's position. If it wasn't for Jack's ambitions, Jack would never have accomplished his goal of becoming the leader of the island. </p>
<p>In the novel Of Mice and Men, the main protagonists, George and Lennie, set off to achieve their America dream. They hope that one day they will be able to purchase a large piece of land and become successful farmers. In order to achieve their dream, George and Lennie work endlessly and save up every penny they can. Unfortunately, Lennie creates a problem and the two must leave. However, George realizes that if Lennie disappeared, he could keep his job and live a more comfortable life. Thus, George murders Lennie in the pursuit of success. Although George's act is uncalled for, it demonstrates people's desires to succeed. </p>
<p>During the Great Depression, an economic stock crash caused severe consequences. On Black Tuesday, October 29th, 1929, stocks plunged and unemployment rates rose 25% and international trade dropped to 33%. This depression is portrayed in the novel the Grapes of Wrath and it shows that no matter how difficult life becomes, people still continue to strive for success. </p>
<p>Competitiveness is the greatest motivator and without it our world would be lacking innovation. As shown in the three examples, people must be highly competitive in order to succeed.</p>
<p><strong><em>If you have any examples that you would've used instead, please list them in the comments. Thank you.</em></strong></p>