SAT ESSAY
America is a paradox. The country that
prides itself on the freedoms of the individual
also presents itself as the prime example of
modern democracy, the rule of the people.
What is more important, individuality or
community? Though history documents the
achievements of individuals, those individuals
would not have entered into history unless
people had risen up in support of them.
Examples from history, literature and popular
culture such as the American Revolution,
Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest and Cameron’s film Avatar demonstrate
that community is more important than
individuality.
The American Revolution offers one
example of how the efforts of a large group of
people contributed to the freeing of a country
from British tyranny. Though George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson led people in
military action and in declaring the rights of
Americans, there would have been no army
without the soldiers who followed Washington
and no war without the citizens who supported
Jefferson.
In Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest, the main character R. P.
McMurphy leads the patients of a psychiatric
ward in revolt against the cruelty of Nurse
Ratched. Like Washington, McMurphy
required the assistance of the other patients to
create morale and resist the nurse’s tactics. Like
Nathan Hale, the American spy who died for the
cause of American independance, McMurphy
gave his life for his people, and in the end the
other patients of the ward succeeded due to his
leadership. Though McMurphy dies, his legacy
survives.
Similarly, in the movie Avatar, the natives
of a neighboring planet are oppressed by
invading military forces, and they succeed in
defeating these forces only by working together.
Cameron’s movie is a retelling of the story of
the native Americans, yet in this telling the
natives defeat their colonizers. The leadership
of their American leader is necessary for uniting
the rebelling natives, but they succeed only by
banding together.
Throughout history, literature and popular
culture, we can identify numerous examples that
illustrate the truth of Lincoln’s claim that, “We
succeed only by concert.” The American
Revolution, Kesey’s novel and Cameron’s film
each suggest that the real history of the world is
driven by the anonymous and forgotten
individuals who followed their famous leaders.