Defining Power and Resistance

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Power and Resistance
Power is a crucial aspect of common society, heavily accompanied by different risks, consequences, and resistance. Power and resistance go hand in hand and vary depending on the contexts and texts. The concept of resistance must be understood since it determines the leader's ability to engage the followers comfortably. Poor implementation of power leads to increase resistance from the followers. Power and resistance are inherently distinct since resistance remains to be obscure to power and its implementation process. Power depends on the ability to mobilize the existing resources purposefully to achieve specific goals and objectives. It must be exercised with specific regulations and guidance. While exercising power, it is also necessary to consider the social resources and the consequences regardless of how much authority one may have (Behn 1). Additionally, power and resistance rely on specific relations. Power relations is the acceptance of the followers to comply with different authorities and the existing actions provided by the leader. Power relations can also be drawn as paradoxical since the social actors cannot fully moderate its effects whatsoever. In other words, the power consequences and risks do not preclude resistance and need to be separated and understood explicitly.
Additionally, it does not mean that whenever the power is accepted, then the resistance is precluded. There are some instances upon which the followers consider specific consequences, and thus they can embrace power. Pullman notes that there are some specific cases of practical or pragmatic acceptance of power in which individuals are authoritatively forced to uphold power beyond their desires or control (2). In this case, power may be embraced in terms of slavery, as considered in the case of Behn. Therefore, power can be identified as either intentional or frictional depending on how the leaders address it. Resistance can also take different forms depending on how power is presented. In many instances, many people confuse resistance with conflict. It does not necessarily mean that every form of resistance is accompanied by conflict; however, conflict may be identified as a symbol of resistance. Nevertheless, conflict and resistance may be related since they both limits power execution. Therefore, ineffective power leads to resistance in the form of conflict, which is detrimental. The paper addresses how power and resistance are represented in the texts Behn, Oroonoko, ed. Joanna Lipking (New York and London: Norton, 1997 and Pullman, P. Northern Lights, Northern Lights (London: Scholastic Press, 1995).
Power and Resistance in Oroonoko by Behn
In Oroonoko, power and resistance are uniquely represented and can only be understood by a comprehensive power analysis. Behn ought to define power as a force. Regardless of others as a significant definition of power, Behn relates power to forceful aspects oriented towards achieving a certain plan (5). Critically focusing on Oroonoko, power is extremely exercised and its consequences felt by the followers. It exposes many people to slavery, thus noted as royal slaves. It must be noted that any power linked to slavery leads to the slave trade, an aspect that is well represented in the text. In understanding how power is exercised in the text, it is necessary to consider power class, which depends on how one is directly linked to the social standards. It is also essential to note that power may lead to drastic effects but depending on its significant distribution.
In Oroonoko, it can be justified that power is separated into three phases, the upper class, the lower class, and the middle class. All the power is vested in the upper class, also summarized as royalty. On the other hand, the lower class are exposed to resistance due to their direct exposure to slavery (Behn 7). Due to such unequal distribution of power, a significant bridge is created due to resistance. It is also noted those in the royal class are directly linked to power, such as the prince. Therefore, all the activities done at the royal level can be noted to take a different direction than those at the lower class; level or the slaves. Importantly, it is also essential to note the unequal treatment of the slaves. Due to the term of a royal slave, which is significantly utilized, many travelers are afraid, and Behn notes many concerns. The narrator stresses that the royal slave looked attractive, but he did not know what it entailed. However, he believed that it was rooted in unequal power-sharing in the community (Behn 6). Therefore, it can be adequately be justified that most of the activities which occur in the text are connected to mismanagement of power and resistance.
Secondly, it is also necessary to argue that power and resistance in the text are represented through sexual abuse. It is noted that after Mr. Trefry mentioned Caesar of the young slave who had not been exposed to love, the prince ordered for her, and without any sigh or curiosity, had the gal in his chambers (Behn 39). Based on such an action, it can be critically examined that the prince used the royal power to abuse the female chamber and brought her hand without the girl's d...