In times of difficulty being stupid will not save anyone; not even a fly. Being clever protects us in many different ways. It provides us with the ability to deceive those that surround us, and it comes in handy in many situations. I recall Randal McMurphy's cleverness, from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, of escaping work farm and jail by declaring himself mentally ill. Because what is a better place than an asylum for the crazy in order to escape jail? Nonetheless, Frederick Douglass, being an african american slave taught himself how to read, and this eventually helped him into freedom.
Both McMurphy and Douglass were very smart men indeed. They knew how to trick those that controlled them in order to benefit themselves. Douglass was inspired by his masters into learning how to read and write. After his masters forbade him in learning, he knew that "the first step had been taken" (Pg. 49), and proceeded to teach himself how to read and write. He learned all about the benefits in being literate and knew that if someday he "learned how to write" he might have a chance of writing himself a pass towards freedom (Pg. 53). Moreover, Douglass was inspired by Irishmen which advised him to "run away to the north...[and that he] should be free"(Pg. 52). From there on he "resolved to run away"(Pg.53). In the other hand, Randall McMurphy knew how much better spending time in a hospital would be than working in a farm all day long. He tricked people into believing him crazy in order to be happier and more comfortable. Both men achieved what they wanted by being smart, rather than stupid.
Being clever and astute has helped people through out the whole existence of human kind. There has always been a variety in the intelligence of people as some are more talented than others. Nevertheless, these two men are clear examples of how this works, and we should learn from them too.
Both McMurphy and Douglass were very smart men indeed. They knew how to trick those that controlled them in order to benefit themselves. Douglass was inspired by his masters into learning how to read and write. After his masters forbade him in learning, he knew that "the first step had been taken" (Pg. 49), and proceeded to teach himself how to read and write. He learned all about the benefits in being literate and knew that if someday he "learned how to write" he might have a chance of writing himself a pass towards freedom (Pg. 53). Moreover, Douglass was inspired by Irishmen which advised him to "run away to the north...[and that he] should be free"(Pg. 52). From there on he "resolved to run away"(Pg.53). In the other hand, Randall McMurphy knew how much better spending time in a hospital would be than working in a farm all day long. He tricked people into believing him crazy in order to be happier and more comfortable. Both men achieved what they wanted by being smart, rather than stupid.
Being clever and astute has helped people through out the whole existence of human kind. There has always been a variety in the intelligence of people as some are more talented than others. Nevertheless, these two men are clear examples of how this works, and we should learn from them too.
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