05 October 2010

Human Sacrifice...


In the final scene that we viewed of Fight Club where Tyler and Jack visit Raymond K. Hessell a powerful exchange takes place. Do you think what Tyler did to Raymond was an example of deviance working as a positive for society, or do you see no value in what Tyler did? Explain...

12 comments:

Holly said...

I think what Tyler did to Raymond was a deviant act with a positive motive. Yes, he used violence to get Raymond to go back to school, but he also did that much to make the world a better place. There are definitely other ways that Tyler could have gotten his point across but they probably wouldn’t have had they same affect of Raymond as putting a gun to his head. This deviant act that Tyler did to Raymond, in the long run, will make him a better person and Raymond will look back on that day with a different attitude knowing how he helped him.

KarleyE said...

I think that what Tyler did to Raymond was in fact a deviant act, but he did it too better Raymond, and have a positive outcome. Tyler could have shot Raymond, or stole the money from his wallet but he didnt. The true reason why Tyler pointed a gun to Raymond’s head was for him to appreciate life. He wanted Raymond to live each day like it was his last, not wasting time working in a convenience store. He could have been pursuing his dream to become a veterinarian, and helping others, but decided to give up(Ritualist). Showing violence to get your answer across is never right but without it, Raymond probably would not have listened. I believe the message of appreciating everyday like it is your last is important. Although Raymond was scared for his life and Tyler was being deviant, the message came through and the only thing he lost was his license, but gained much more.

Timith J. said...

I think what Tyler did was a deviant act because most people wouldn’t put a gun behind someone's head and tell them to go and become what you want to be. But Tyler's act had a good intention because Raymond was working in a store and he wanted to be a veterinarian. But he did not complete his studies because it was too hard for him and he started working in a store. But Tyler asked him that would he rather be dead than to study to be a veterinarian and he accepted to continue his studies. Tyler also took his driver’s license to check on him after 6 weeks. Fear motivated Raymond because he was too lazy to achieve his goals. So I would say that Tyler helped Raymond.

taylaurdempsey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
taylaurdempsey said...

I definitely see what Tyler did for Raymond as a perfect example of deviance working as a positive for society. Although what he did, pretending to threaten to kill the man, was not really considered socially normal, it was a very good thing. Violence is 'morally' wrong but in this case, the ends satisfy the means. Since Raymond was so close to losing his life, it is safe to say he'll probably appreciate it much more. He's going to be so afraid for his life, and feel so lucky to still have his life, he won't have a choice but to make the change Tyler forced upon him. Now, Raymond will do whatever it takes to become a veterinarian and will have a much better life, all due to Tyler's deviance.

Crystal Rose said...

When Tyler took out the gun and threatened Raymond it was a deviant act. Later, you find out that the deviant act was for a good reason, to get Raymond back into veterinarian school. In this case, yes, deviance worked in a positive way because it allowed for Raymond to open his eyes. I believe that Tyler was trying to get across the point that life is short and can be taken away at any time therefore you should cherish it. Due to Tyler’s deviant act, Raymond will now have a enhanced chance of a respectable future because he will make something of himself because of the fear that Tyler has instilled in him.

haileyG said...

What Tyler did to Raymond was defiantly deviant, but it was also positive at the same time. What he did he was doing to make Raymond better. He didn't want Raymond to be unsuccessful and unsatisfied. Yes, Tyler scared the crap out a Raymond but in it also motivated Raymond to do whats right and go to school and do what he wants in life. I feel like not all deviant acts are bad, a lot of times they are good for society. Pulling a gun on Raymond's head probably wasn't the only way for Tyler to get through to him, but it sure worked. Also i don;t believe that Tyler had any real intention of killing Raymond, he just wanted him to get out of the struggling life he was in. So i believe that Tyler actually did the right thing to improve the quality of Raymond's life, and make it more worth living.

AFontana said...

I do believe that the act itself can be considered deviant. However it was done with good intentions. They could have gone about the same message in a different way. I don't believe that it would have been as powerful had they not held a gun to his head. In the long run this will only make Raymond a better person because he now realized that he is not doing what he wants with his life. He know realizes how short life can be and when he wakes up tomorrow he will be more thankful for what he has.

Mike Bradley said...

What Tyler did to Raymond K Hessell was definitely a deviant act with a positive motive. He could have had a different approach in telling Raymond to go back to school without force, but it wouldn’t leave an impact like putting a gun to his head. There’s definitely a better chance of Raymond going back to school to become a vet than there was before if there were no Tyler/”Jack”/Norton. Despite being deviant, by inspiring fear Tyler’s act in the long run will get Raymond becoming a vet, benefitting society.

TaylorAnne said...

I relate this situation to the murderer from SAW. Jigsaw doesn't really kill people, but he tests their will to live through mental and physical torture. Even though it has good intentions, helping someone turn their life around, it's still a deviant act. What Tyler did is very similar. Even though he threatened Raymond with his best intentions in mind, most people wouldn't go about it in such a brash manner, threatening to kill him if he doesn't turn his life around. Because it's so different from society, it's still considered deviant.

Briana Chantel said...

i think what tyler had in mind was postive & came out in a deviant act sometimes we do things that we think in our minds are right but to everyone else it seems bad.so i think he was doing the right thing just he should have went about it another way.

Stefanie'10 said...

I definitely believe that what Tyler did was deviant to society. He threatened an unarmed man he didn’t even know, for no apparent reason. Whether the gun had bullets in it, doesn’t matter, he threatened that man with possible death. I don’t think it necessarily worked as a positive for society. If Raymond K. Hessell actually did go back to school to be a veterinary, how do I know if he even became one? It would be positive for society if he became a veterinary, but if he didn’t then no, I don’t believe him going to college helped society in a positive way. Although, I do see the value in what Tyler did. He knew that the morning after the death threat would be the most beautiful day of Raymond K. Hessell’s life. Tyler's point of his actions was that people don’t appreciate life until they've almost experienced death.